rave musing sort of habit, and
often preferred solitary walks, in the wild and beautiful scenery
with which the village is surrounded, to the use of the gun. He was
attached to fishing, moreover, that dullest of human amusements, and
this also tended to keep us considerably apart. This gave me rather
pleasure than concern;--not that I hated Francis at that time; nay,
not that I greatly disliked his society; but merely because it was
unpleasant to be always with one, whose fortunes I looked upon as
standing in direct opposition to my own. I also rather despised the
indifference about sport, which indeed seemed to grow upon him; but
my gentleman had better taste than I was aware of. If he sought no
grouse on the hill, he had flushed a pheasant in the wood.

"Clara Mowbray, daughter of the Lord of the more picturesque than
wealthy domain of St. Ronan's, was at that time scarce sixteen years
old, and as wild and beautiful a woodland nymph as the imagination
can fancy--simple as a child in all that concerned the world and its
ways, acute as a needle in every point of knowledge which she had
found an opportunity of becoming acquainted with; fearing harm from
no one, and with, a lively and natural strain of wit, which brought
amusement and gaiety wherever she came. Her motions were under no
restraint, save that of her own inclination; for her father, though
a cross, peevish, old man, was confined to his chair with the gout,
and her only companion, a girl of somewhat inferior caste, bred up
in the utmost deference to Miss Mowbray's fancies, served for
company indeed in her strolls through the wild country on foot and
on horseback, but never thought of interfering with her will and
pleasure.

"The extreme loneliness of the country, (at that time,) and the
simplicity of its inhabitants, seemed to render these excursions
perfectly safe. Francis, happy dog, became the companion of the
damsels on such occasions through the following accident. Miss
Mowbray had dressed herself and her companion like country wenches,
with a view to surprise the family of one of their better sort of
farmers. They had accomplished their purpose greatly to their
satisfaction, and were hying home after sunset, when they were
encountered by a country fellow--a sort of Harry Jekyl in his
way--who, being equipped wit