fling the reins on the horse's neck, and gallop
down hill; a very slight check would send you whirling to the bottom.
Now, you should take the advice of a man of the world, who is older than
you, and who--if I may say so--has kept his eyes open. I don't want to
discourage you; but you should take it for granted that accidents may
happen. I would feel the reins a little bit, if I were you. Once you've
got her into the church, and see her with a white veil over her head,
then you may be as perfervid as you like--"

And so the simple-minded major prattled on, Macleod paying but little
heed. There had been nothing about Major Stuart's courtship and marriage
to shake the world: why, he said to himself, when the lady was pleased
to lend a favoring ear, was there any reason for making such a fuss?

"Your happiness will all depend on one thing," said he to Macleod, with
a complacent wisdom in the round and jovial face. "Take my word for it.
I hear of people studying the character, the compatibilities, and what
not, of other people; but I never knew of a young man thinking of such
things when he was in love. He plunges in, and finds out afterward. Now
it all comes this--is she likely, or not likely, to prove a sigher?"

"A what?" said Macleod, apparently awakening from a trance.

"A sigher. A woman who goes about the house all day sighing, whether
over your sins or her own, she won't tell you."

"Indeed, I cannot say," Macleod said, laughing. "I should hope not. I
think she has excellent spirits."

"Ah!" said the major, thoughtfully; and he himself sighed. Perhaps he
was thinking of a certain house far away in Mull, to which he had
shortly to return.

Macleod did not know how to show his gratitude toward this good-natured
friend. He would have given him half a dozen banquets a day; and Major
Stuart liked a London dinner. But what he did offer as a great reward
was this: that Major Stuart should go up the next morning to a
particular church, and take up a particular position in the church, and
then--then he would get a glimpse of the most wonderful creature the
world had seen. Oddly enough, the major did not eagerly accept this
munificent offer. To another proposal--that he should go up to Mr.
White's, on the first day after their return from Sussex, and meet the
young lady at luncheon--he seemed better inclined.

"But why shouldn't we go to the theatre to-night?" said he, in his
simple way.

Macleod looked embarrassed.