in the flattering reception his proposal had met with,
and that it had his entire approbation; in evidence of which, he put
Colonel Talbot's letter into the Baron's hand. The Baron read it with
great attention. 'Sir Everard,' he said, 'always despised wealth in
comparison of honour and birth; and indeed he had no occasion to court
the DIVA PECUNIA. Yet I now wish, since this Malcolm turns out such a
parricide, for I can call him no better, as to think of alienating the
family inheritance-I now wish' (his eyes fixed on a part of the roof
which was visible above the trees) 'that I could have left Rose the
auld hurley-house, and the riggs belanging to it.--And yet,' said he,
resuming more cheerfully, 'it's maybe as weel as it is; for, as Baron
of Bradwardine, I might have thought it my duty to insist upon certain
compliances respecting name and bearings, whilk now, as a landless laird
wi' a tocherless daughter, no one can blame me for departing from.'

'Now, Heaven be praised!' thought Edward, 'that Sir Everard does not
hear these scruples!--the three ermines passsat and rampant bear would
certainly have gone together by the ears.' He then, with all the ardour
of a young lover, assured the Baron, that he sought for his happiness
only in Rose's heart and hand, and thought himself as happy in her
father's simple approbation, as if he had settled an earldom upon his
daughter.

They now reached Little Veolan. The goose was smoking on the table, and
the Bailie brandished his knife and fork. A joyous greeting took place
between him and his patron. The kitchen, too, had its company. Auld
Janet was established at the ingle-nook; Davie had turned the spit
to his immortal honour; and even Ban and Buscar, in the liberality of
Macwheeble's joy, had been stuffed to the throat with food, and now lay
snoring on the floor.

The next day conducted the Baron and his young friend to the Duchran,
where the former was expected, in consequence of the success of the
nearly unanimous application of the Scottish friends of Government in
his favour. This had been so general and so powerful, that it was almost
thought his estate might have been saved, had it not passed into the
rapacious hands-of his unworthy kinsman, whose right, arising out of the
Baron's attainder, could not be affected by a pardon from the crown.
The old gentleman, however, said, with his usual spirit, he was
more gratified by the hold he possessed in the good opinion of his