d to whom she may, in Highland fashion, have
been in some degree akin.

Naught would satisfy her but that I should tell the story of my
adventures, should describe the Prince a thousand times--which I
did with every variation I could think of to engage her
admiration--should relate every incident and conversation with Lord
George, which I did the more willingly that I loved him from my
heart, and it required but little effort to speak of a man who had
played his part so gallantly.

With Lady Jane as moved as Margaret herself, we sat till late, and,
like Othello, I told to the most sympathising ears in the world
the story of my life. They forgot the hour, the place, and all but
the moving recital; and I saw only the glistening eyes, sometimes
wide with horror, sometimes welling over with tears, and sometimes
sparkling with humour, until, like the Moor, I could almost persuade
myself that

"She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd,
And I lov'd her that she did pity them."

"Come, come, Hughie! We'll have no more of this! The child will
never close her eyes this night, and you should be ashamed, making
an exhibition of an old fool of a woman!" suddenly cried Lady Jane,
rising and wiping her eyes when I had finished telling of the death
of young Glengarry at Falkirk. And half laughing, half crying, she
kissed me and pushed me out of the room, before I had opportunity
to take a fitting farewell of Margaret, Pearl of all Women.

"If the Vicomte can make any running that will count against this,
I'll be much surprised," I thought to myself as I picked my way
home under a warm drizzle through the dirty, ill-lighted streets.
But outward discomforts mattered not a whit to me, for I had eaten
of the fruit of the gods, and that night I journeyed in the sunlight
of the Pays-du-Tendre, bearing in my heart the idol to which my
soul did homage, as I hummed over the song of some dead and forgotten
but valiant-hearted lady of my own house:

"When day was deid I met my Dear
On fair Kirkconnel Lea,
Though fause een spied, I knew no fear,
His love was over me.
He kissed me fu' upon the mou',
He looked me in the ee,
An' whispered low, 'Nor life nor death
Shall part my Love frae me!'

"The span o' Life's nae lang eneugh,
Nor deep eneugh the sea,
Nor braid eneugh this weary warld
To part my Love frae me!

"Though mony an' mony a day hath died
On fair Kirkconnel Lea