Part 30 (1/2)

I stole out of the rooot on the corner by the Prince's lodging, the first thing that caught my eye was a calash drawn up in the ant ladies in it, and a sprig of a blackareen breeches and yellow doublet at the horse's head Margaret and Maclachlan were standing by, and aon between thearet, her quickher head to sweep the square with her eyes

I had always felt and, for the most part I trust, observed the difference between us, but it struck me now like a bloeen the eyes It was easy to see that Margaret, for all her grey doroup; easy, too, to catch the er ladiesChief's infatuation Well, he was there, and I was here, by right I said so to ely, that there should be no mistake about it, but I must adroup of clansons, and so got into a side-alley unseen by those searching eyes

I caed very well, for all that it had its full share of clans a square meal of bread and cheese and cold bacon, washed doith excellent ale Iforforth, and still avoiding the square, I roa an interest in as going on The Highlanders were happy, noisy, and full of confidence--not unjustly, for so far they had played ninepins with the Royal troops Everywhere they were hard at it, sharpening dirks and clay muskets, and such of their talk as I could understand was all of battle imminent

In the churchyard I found a nurand old cross as a target They had chipped it soained it off at the price of a few shi+llings They turned their attention, with hopeful grins, to the brass weathercock on the church tohich I did not deeood shooting was to be encouraged

I mooned around for an hour or so, very miserable Ifin the die and the calash in the hlanders, I suddenly struck out for the ”Angel,”

intending to see how the horses were doing, a necessary task which I was to bla by the shops on one side of the square and, in heedlessly passing a mercer's, had to skip aside to avoid a finely dressed lady co out of the door, with the shop behind her She was a stranger to me and, moreover, I hadclean avoided her, I was for striding on, but she said sharply, ”What do you mean by such conduct, sir?”

I cannot remember any other occasion in ant lady who stood there, a quizzing saret

”I've waited and waited your honour's convenience till I could wait no longer,” she said

There was still the delightful ed their hted to watch the varying shades of expression sweep over her exquisite face, thought so as I stood there, twizzlingan utter fool

”You cannot expect a perfectmy discomfiture, ”especially as I have had to carry the colour into say so the faintest idea of what she was driving at

”I disclaile It will be your fault entirely Your arm, sir!”

I offered her my arm, into which she slipped hers, jael” Of course we must meet Maclachlan, to co us, but Margaret disposed of hi a turkey off froel,” she led the way to her parlour overlooking the square, dragged me hurriedly to the , and undid the packet From it she took a patch of cloth and a hank of silk thread These she first dabbed on my sleeve, and then flourished before ood match after all! Do they suit me, Oliver?”

She was dressed in a cinna, above and below, an under-dress of supple woven olden silk A hat of a military cast, reat white panache, half hid and half revealed her masses of yellow hair

”You look perfect,” I said emphatically

”For my Prince,” she replied softly ”Off with your coat, and let me show you what sort of a housewife I am”

I did as she bade me, and she doffed hat and joseph She set me comfortably before the fire in an elbow-chair, and handed me a new pipe and a fresh paper of tobacco, and insisted onalmost at s and a back like a yard of ladder, she set to work on the holes Brocton's rapier hadmy soul on the picture she made as she bent over her stitchery A rare hobbledehoy I was in my villainous coat, but what I looked like in h but home-made and with never a shred of cuff or ruff to the

She was quite silent too, and though talk of any sort would have been distasteful to h, I could not help re how she had rattled on with Maclachlan Here was another cursed deficiency My conversation was as country-like and poverty-stricken as my clothes I had always ruled the roast at our market ordinaries, where I was looked upon as a bit of a fop and awas solemnly respected because I was so hard and ready a hitter Here, in a parlour and with her, so beautiful that even her beautiful dress scarce attracted a passing glance, I was dull and ill at ease The only thing I did, except to look at her, was to let ain, tiaret said, ”that was the best tobacco that comes from the Americas”

”I should think it is,” said I; ”I've never sives you a lot of trouble,” she answered, and stayed her stitching for afor the Colonel?” I asked