upon a sofa in
the office, where his daughter waited on him, assisted by Perrowne, who
had to carry the other articles of food while she preceded him with the
tea. Miss Du Plessis, similarly helped by the colonel, attended to the
wants of the dominie. Consequently, the steady members of the supper
circle were the three matrons and Miss Carmichael, with Squires Walker
and Carruthers, Mr. Errol, and the Captain. All agreed that Wilkinson
had done a very fine thing, and Mrs. Du Plessis was warm in his praise.
"The only men that stuck to me," said the Squire, "were Mr. Errol and
Bigglethorpe, and even Bigglethorpe went off fishing as soon as he came
to the water, so that I may say Mr. Errol was my only faithful
adherent." The ladies all looked with much approbation on the blushing
minister, and Mrs. Carmichael showed her approval by immediately
refilling his cup. Squire Walker whispered in his ear: "Fine woman, Mr.
Errol, fine woman, that Mrs. Carmichael! Is she a widow, sir?" Mr. Errol
did not like this whispering at table, especially on such a subject, but
he replied affirmatively in as brief a way as possible, and went on with
his repast. The Captain said that his mill was clean run out of gear
with all these starboard and port watches and tacks to every point of
the compass; and, when conversation lagged, Carruthers fairly nodded
over his plate. Nevertheless, after supper, the occupants of the kitchen
were called in and prayers were held, in which Mr. Errol offered
petitions for the bereaved, the suffering, and the criminal, and
committed the watchers at the post of danger and duty to the care of
their Heavenly Father, to all of which Mr. Perrowne responded with a
hearty Amen. Then, the parsons insisted on going home to their boarding
houses, and Squire Walker mounted his horse for home. Anxiously, Mrs.
Carruthers asked her husband if he anticipated danger where her father
was, and Miss Carmichael asked the Captain the same question, without
mentioning anyone, but having Coristine in view. Both endeavoured to
reassure the minds of the half tearful women, after which they carried
the doctor upstairs, and all went to bed. Fearing that the idiot boy
might repeat his double attempt to fire the verandah, Mr. Perrowne had
told Muggins to lie there and watch it, and there the faithful dog lay
the whole night through, to the satisfaction of the inmates of
Bridesdale, although happily nothing happened to test his quality as a
wat