l scheme. I recollected our right honourable father's
denunciations against Scottish marriages, and secret marriages of
all sorts,--denunciations perhaps not the less vehement, that he
might feel some secret prick of conscience on the subject himself. I
remembered that my grave brother had always been a favourite, and I
forgot not--how was it possible I could forget--those ominous
expressions, which intimated a possibility of the hereditary estate
and honours being transferred to the elder, instead of the younger
son. Now, it required no conjurer to foresee, that should Francis
commit this inexpiable crime of secretly allying himself with a
Scottish beauty, our sire would lose all wish to accomplish such a
transference in his favour; and while my brother's merits were
altogether obscured by such an unpardonable act of disobedience, my
own, no longer overshadowed by prejudice or partiality, would shine
forth in all their natural brilliancy. These considerations, which
flashed on me with the rapidity of lightning, induced me to consent
to hold Frank's back-hand, during the perilous game he proposed to
play. I had only to take care that my own share in the matter should
not be so prominent as to attract my father's attention; and this I
was little afraid of, for his wrath was usually of that vehement and
forcible character, which, like lightning, is attracted to one
single point, there bursting with violence as undivided as it was
uncontrollable.

"I soon found the lovers needed my assistance more than I could have
supposed; for they were absolute novices in any sort of intrigue,
which to me seemed as easy and natural as lying. Francis had been
detected by some tattling spy in his walks with Clara, and the news
had been carried to old Mowbray, who was greatly incensed at his
daughter, though little knowing that her crime was greater than
admitting an unknown English student to form a personal acquaintance
with her. He prohibited farther intercourse--resolved, in
justice-of-peace phrase, to rid the country of us; and, prudently
sinking all mention of his daughter's delinquency, commenced an
action against Francis, under pretext of punishing him as an
encroacher upon his game, but in reality to scare him from the
neighbourhood. His person was particularly described to all the
keepers