you please,' said the Colonel.

'No, no, time enough, time enough. But come, Dominie, I have allowed you
a competent space to express your feelings. I must circumduce the term;
you must let me proceed in my examination.'

The Dominie was habitually obedient to any one who chose to impose
commands upon him: he sunk back into his chair, spread his chequered
handkerchief over his face, to serve, as I suppose, for the Grecian
painter's veil, and, from the action of his folded hands, appeared for a
time engaged in the act of mental thanksgiving. He then raised his eyes
over the screen, as if to be assured that the pleasing apparition had not
melted into air; then again sunk them to resume his internal act of
devotion, until he felt himself compelled to give attention to the
Counsellor, from the interest which his questions excited.

'And now,' said Mr. Pleydell, after several minute inquiries concerning
his recollection of early events--'and now, Mr. Bertram,--for I think we
ought in future to call you by your own proper name--will you have the
goodness to let us know every particular which you can recollect
concerning the mode of your leaving Scotland?'

'Indeed, sir, to say the truth, though the terrible outlines of that day
are strongly impressed upon my memory, yet somehow the very terror which
fixed them there has in a great measure confounded and confused the
details. I recollect, however, that I was walking somewhere or other, in
a wood, I think--'

'O yes, it was in Warroch wood, my dear,' said the Dominie.

'Hush, Mr. Sampson,' said the Lawyer.

'Yes, it was in a wood,' continued Bertram, as long past and confused
ideas arranged themselves in his reviving recollection; 'and some one was
with me; this worthy and affectionate gentleman, I think.'

'O, ay, ay, Harry, Lord bless thee; it was even I myself.'

'Be silent, Dominie, and don't interrupt the evidence,' said Pleydell.
'And so, sir?' to Bertram.

'And so, sir,' continued Bertram, 'like one of the changes of a dream, I
thought I was on horseback before my guide.'

'No, no,' exclaimed Sampson, 'never did I put my own limbs, not to say
thine, into such peril.'

'On my word, this is intolerable! Look ye, Dominie, if you speak another
word till I give you leave, I will read three sentences out of the Black
Acts, whisk my cane round my head three times, undo all the magic of this
night's work, and conjure Harry Bertram back again into Vanbeest Brown.'