A Daughter of Raasay

t than that of Sunday. In huge disorder scarfs, lace cravats, muffs, and other necessary equipment were littered about the room. I much missed the neat touch of my valet Simpkins, and the gillie Hami

self justice before I set off for the lodgings

idence exhibited by the Prince and his chiefs that the Stuarts were already in peaceable possession of the entire dominions of their ancestors. A vast concourse of well-dressed people thronged to Holyrood House from morning till night to present their respects to Prince Charles Edward. His politeness and affability, as well as the charms of his conversation and the graces of his person, swept the ladies especially fro

ting each other in loyalty to the ladies who had gathered from all over Scotland to dance beneath the banner of the white rose. The Hall was a great blaze of moving

nd. Plainly this was no state ceremonial, rather an international frolic to tune all hearts to a common glee. We were on the top of fortune's wave. Had we not won for the Young Chevalier by the sword the ancient capital of his family, and did not the road to London invite us sout

der. Keith narrated a story of how the Young Chevalier, after a long day's march on foot, had led the army three miles out of its way in order to avoid disturbing the wife of a cottar who had fallen asleep at the

ghlander all day and never weary, he can sleep on pease-straw as well as on a bed of down, can sup o

passed from lips to lips, "The Prince comes." Every eye swept to the doorway. Men bowed de

whispered Ba

o quiet sudden as they had begun. "Dhia theasirg an Righ!" (God save the King)

nd while the skirling bagpipes pealed forth, "The King shall enjoy his own again," Charles Stuart ben

e having seen, to love. All the great charm of his race found expression in him. Gallant, gracious, generous, tender-hearted in victory and cheerful in defeat (as we had soon to learn, alas!), even his enemies confessed this young Stuart a w

ne on which a usurper sits, or failing in that to perish in the attempt. How nobly you our people have rallied to our side in this undertaking to restore the ancient liberties of the kingdom needs not be told. To the arbitrament of bat

ese few simple sentences. Again the pipes vo

he water and

the water

me woe, we'll

nd die wi'

e feeling that found expression in long-drawn breath and broken sob and glimmering tear. The gallant

to understand the madness of devotion that had carried away these wise gray-haired gentlemen, but to those who never saw him I despair of conveying in cold type the subtle quality of charm that radiated from him. In the very bloom of youth, tall, slender, and handsome, he had a grace of manner not to be resisted. To condescend to the particulars of his person: a face of perfect oval very regular in feature; large light blue eyes shaded by beautifully arched brows; nose good and of the Roman type; complexion

tion. The Prince separated himself from the group about him and came lightly down the steps to m

s I welcome you, both on your own account and because you are one of th

al, and I observed that his grasp of the situation appeared to be clear and incisive. He introduced me to the noblemen and chiefs about him, and I was wise enough to know that if they made much of me it was rather for the

ought with him a hundred claymores and he wasna half so kenspeckle (conspicuous). I'll

manner, though I saw but his back, chilled me to an indefinable premonition of his identity. Yet an instant, and a turn in the dance figure flung into view the face of Sir Robert Volney, negligent and unperturbed, heedless apparently of the fact that any moment a hand might fall on his shoulder to lead him to his death. Aileen, to the contrary, clearly showed fear, anxiety, a troubled mind-to be detected in the hurried little glances of fearfulness directed toward her brother Malcolm, and in her plain eagerness to have done with th

sembly hall. A still hunt of five minutes, and I had run down my prey in a snug little rece

vantage of her soft heart to force yourself on h

see the woman that

will such a thing as y

r. His beautiful, speaking eyes looked straight into hers. His manneris

ight of you has starved my folly and fed

me font mourir d'amour,'" he quoted from Moliere. "'Tis true, Aileen; I die of love; it burns me up," he added passionately, hun

soul you're due to die of tightened hemp to-mor

the man, after the first start he did not turn a hair. The face tha

harlequin when you're not wanted! Now to come blundering in upon a lady and her frien

tat! I learnt it fro

r the battle that was to come. Save for th

city confounds all pre

er me, Mr.

ered you instead of me your soul had

it less vilely. Heavenward, she put it! 'Twould

one you're like to find the answer of shortly, presupp

e inquiry. "Indeed! A spy

rian usurpers discovered in our midst

ave a mind to join your

r the way, all eager to wipe out an insult to the daughter of Raasay. Faith, when they

suppose we put it that I'm visiting

climate not agree

y for pl

more exciting

, dear Kenn

aise my voice an

and low, an excellent thing in Ken

watched me steadily. No need of words to tell

e situation," I told him cold

f I were at White's, and a devilish deal better satisfied. Situ

am trying to have you understand that

ly graceless, he watched me smilingly out of half-closed

an, Montagu, the situation

nt," I told him; but

If you put me out of the way by playing informer what appearance will it bear? You may talk of duty

uns, demolished my defenses. The triumph was spong

ave to think of it. There is a duty

s. Egad, they're immutable. You know me to be no spy. Conceded that I am in a false position. W

mphant, chuckling no doubt at the dilemma into which he had thrust me. The worst of it was that while I was ostens

tness. "Save this of throwing yourself on her mercy there was no other way of approaching her. Of the wisdom of the ser

vogue among our party, and a young man pa

re the borde

the border

we'll march t

its castles,

on the spot, substituting two li

you'll march

nd quartered a

y in his clippe

ive to see it," I

self about giving me up, eh? Well that's a matter you must set

th," said Aileen in a low voice. "S

y here. You may be sure

dly. "Perhaps Sir Robert will be le

blem in ethics for Mr. Montagu to solve. Strength comes through conflict, so the schools teach

go. He held me on the knife-edge of irritation, and perillous as was the

pat. Better leave to-morrow, Si

; but I tell you, my lord fool, 'out of this nettl

en let me remind you what he has to say about the better

a retreat- 'Tis not to be thought of. No, no, Mont

once too often. I shall find a way t

you, lad," said a vo

He must have been standing there unobserved long enough t

dinna care a rap for you the tane gate or the tither (the one way or the other). I'd like fine to see you dancing frae the widdie (gallows), but gin the lady wants you spared I'll no' say her no. Mr. Englis

ght be bound by honour, but Captain Macdonald was free as air to dictate terms. Volney looked long at hi

matter of the gravest calls me; nothing of less importance than the life of my nearest fri

the man as if he

e in his fine eyes, which knew so well

y madness?"

he passed, touched Macdonald on the arm with a pleasant promise to attend the obsequies when the Highlander should be