Sin' I stood by my True Love's side
An' melted 'neath his ee,
Yet ilka wind that fans my cheek
Kissed his in Germanie,
An' bids me bide; for what shall make
To 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!"

Do I need to relate the story of the next day, or of each one which
succeeded? Dear as it is to me, clearly as every fond remembrance
stands out before me, it might but weary a reader to whom I cannot
possibly convey even a conception of the sweet witchery of my
Margaret's engaging manner. Mine, though I might never possess her,
for I was too sincerely attached to Lady Jane to think of standing
in the way of her plans should she finally determine against me;
mine most of all, when I saw how eagerly the dear girl turned to
me whenever I appeared.

The Vicomte often formed one of our party, and it was with some
distress that I saw he was inclined to interfere with the friendship
so happily begun. I have a natural inclination against giving pain;
there is already so much in this world which we cannot prevent, it
seems cruel to add to it intentionally, and it was not without
regret that I saw my innocent endeavours towards the entertainment
of Margaret caused him grave uneasiness. Still, as a man of breeding
he could not admit that his position in her affections was endangered,
and so kept on his way, though his evident disturbance told against
the effectiveness of his advances towards her, and at times rendered
his attack on me singularly unskilful. _Exempli gratia:_ Margaret
was so visibly moved one day by the effect of my singing, for I
then possessed a voice justly admired by those best qualified to
judge, that he was indiscreet enough to remark on my choice of a
song, which was Jacobite to an extreme.

"Chevalier, only an artist could act a part so thoroughly."

It was embarrassing, but I was saved all necessity of a reply by
Margaret's generous outburst:

"Oh, Gaston, for shame! You can never understand what it means to
have lost all for your Prince!"

A somewhat more forceful rejoinder than I should have been able to
make, seeing I had so unguardedly revealed my sentiments on this
very subject to him at our first meeting. Therefore I at once
accepted her defence in the same spirit as it was given; indeed,
I had almost forgotten I had any rancour against the unfor