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ustomary solemnity his explanation reflected nothing but credit upon his character。
〃The fact is；〃 said he； 〃that I am shortly going to rejoin my daughter in Scotland。 You are aware of her disposition； Baroness？〃
〃I have heard that she is inclined to be devotional。〃
〃She is devotional；〃 answered this excellent man。 〃I have taken considerable pains to see to it。 As your mother and I have often agreed； there is no such safeguard for a young girl as a hobby or mania of this sort。〃
〃A hobby or mania？〃 exclaimed the Baroness in a pained voice。
Sir Justin looked annoyed。 He was evidently surprised to find that the principles inculcated by his old friend and himself appeared to outlive the occasion for which they were intendedto wit； the protection of virgin hearts from undesirable aspirations till calm reason and a husband should render them unnecessary。
〃I use the terms employed by the philosophical；〃 he hastened to explain； 〃but my own opinion is inclined to coincide with yours； my dear Alicia。〃
This paternal use of her Christian name； coupled with the kindly tone of his justification； encouraged the Baroness to open her business。
〃Sir Justin；〃 she began； 〃can I trust youmay I ask you not to tell my mother that I have visited you？〃
〃If you can show me an adequate reason； you may rely upon my discretion；〃 said the ex…diplomatist cautiously； yet with an encouraging smile。
〃In some things one would sooner confide in a man than a woman； Sir Justin。〃
〃That is undoubtedly true；〃 he agreed cordially。 〃You may confide in me； Baroness。〃
〃I have heard from my husband again。 I need not show you the letter； it is quite satisfactoryoh； quite； I assure you！ Only I found this enclosed with it。〃
In breathless silence she watched him examine critically first the heather and then the verses。
〃Lord Tulliwuddle！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Is there anything in the Baron's letter to throw any light upon this？〃
〃Not one wordnot the slightest hint。〃
Again he studied the paper。
〃Oh； what does it mean？〃 she cried。 〃I came to you because you know all about the Tulliwuddles。 Where is Lord Tulliwuddle now？〃
〃I am not acquainted with the present peer；〃 he ansevered meditatively。 〃In fact； I know singularly little about him。 I did hearyes； I heard from my daughter some rumor that he was shortly expected to visit his place in Scotland； but whether he went there or not I cannot say。〃
〃You can find out for me？〃
〃I shall lose no time in ascertaining。〃
The Baroness thanked him effusively； and rose to depart with a mind a little comforted。
〃And you won't tell mamma？〃
〃I never tell a woman anything that is of any importance。〃
The Baroness was confirmed in her opinion that Sir Justin was not a very nice man； but she felt an increased confidence in his judgment。
CHAPTER XX
From the gargoyled keep which the cultured enthusiasm of Eleanor and the purse of her father had recently erected at Lincoln Lodge； the brother and sister looked over a bend of the river； half a mile of valley road； a wave of forest country； and the greater billows of the bare hillsides towering beyond。 But out of all this prospect it was only upon the stretch of road that their eyes were bent。
〃Surely one should see their carriage soon！〃 exclaimed Eleanor。
〃Seems to me；〃 said her brother； 〃that you're sitting something like a cat on the pounce for this Tulliwuddle fellow。 Why； Eleanor； I never saw you so excited since the first duke came along。 I thought that had passed right off。〃
〃Oh； Ri； I was reading 'Waverley' again last night； and somehow I felt the top of the keep was the only place to watch for a chief！〃
〃Why； you don't expect him to be different from other people？〃
〃Ri！ I tell you I'll cry if he looks like any one I've ever seen before！ Don't you remember the Count said he moved like a pine in his native forests？〃
〃He won't make much headway like that；〃 said Ri incisively。 〃I'd sooner he moved like something more spry than a tree。 I guess that Count was talking through his hat。〃
But his sister was not to be argued out of her exalted mood by such prosaic reasoning。 She exclaimed at his sluggish imagination； reiterated her faith in the insinuating count's assurances； and was only withheld from sending her brother down for a spy…glass by the reflection that she could not remember reading of its employment by any maiden in analogous circumstances。
It was at this auspicious moment； when the heart of the expectant heiress was inflamed with romantic fancies and excited with the suspense of waiting； and before it had time to cool through any undue delay； that a little cloud of dust first caught her straining eyes。
〃He comes at last！〃 she cried。
At the same instant the faint strains of the pibroch were gently wafted to her embattled tower。
〃He is bringing his piper！ Oh； what a duck he is！〃
〃Seems to me he is bringing a dozen of them；〃 observed Ri。
〃And look； Ri！ The sun is glinting upon steel！ Claymores； Ri！ oh； how heavenly！ There must be fifty men！ And they are still coming！ I do believe he has brought the whole clan！〃
Too petrified with delight to utter another exclamation； she watched in breathless silence the approach of a procession more formidable than had ever escorted a Tulliwuddle since the year of Culloden。 As they drew nearer； her ardent gaze easily distinguished a stalwart figure in plaid and kilt； armed to the teeth with target and claymore； marching with a stately stride fully ten paces before his retinue。
〃The chief！〃 she murmured。
Now indeed she saw there was no cause to mourn； for any one at all resembling the Baron von Blitzenberg as he appeared at that moment she had certainly never met before。 Intoxicated with his finery and with the terrific peals of melody behind him； he pranced rather than walked up to the portals of Lincoln Lodge； and there； to the amazement and admiration alike of his clansmen and his expectant host； he burst forth into the following Celtic fragment； translated into English for the occasion by his assiduous friend from a hitherto undiscovered manuscript of Ossian：
〃I am ze chieftain； Nursed in ze mountains； Behold me； Macigigig ish！
（Yet the Count had written this word very distinctly。）
〃Oich for ze claymore！ Hoch for ze philabeg！ Sons of ze red deers； Children of eagles； I will supply you Mit Sassenach carcases！〃
At this point came a momentary lull； the chieftain's eyes rolling bloodthirstily； but the rhapsody having apparently become congested within his fiery heart。 His audience； however； were not given time to recover their senses； before a striking…looking individual； adorned with tartan trews and a feathered hat； in whom all were pleased to recognize Count Bunker； whispered briefly in his lordship's ear； and like a river in spate he foamed on：
〃Donald and Ronald Avake from your slumbers！ Maiden so lovely； Smile mit your bright eyes！ Ze heather is blooming！ Ze vild cat is growling！ Hech Dummeldirroch！ Behold Tollyvoddle； Ze Lord of ze Mountains！〃
Hardly had the reverberations of the chieftain's voice died away； when the Count； uttering a series of presumably Gaelic cries； advanced with the most dramatic air； and threw his broad…sword upon the ground。 The Baron laid his across it； the pipes struck up a less formidable； but if anything more exciting air； and the two noblemen； springing simultaneously from the ground； began what the Count confidently trusted their American hosts would accept as the national sworddance。
This lasted for some considerable time； and gave the Count an opportunity of testifying his remarkable agility and the Baron of displaying the greater part of his generously proportioned limbs； while the lung power of both became from that moment proverbial in the glen。
At the conclusion of this ceremony the chieftain； crimson； breathless； and radiant； a sight for gods and ladies； advanced to greet his host。
〃Very happy to see you； Lord Tulliwuddle；〃 said Mr。 Maddison。 〃Allow me to offer you my very sincere congratulations on your exceedingly interesting exhibition。 Welcome to Lincoln Lodge； your lordship！ My daughtermy son。〃
Eleanor； almost as flushed as the Baron by her headlong rush from the keep at the conclusion of the sword… dance； threw him such a smile as none of her admirers had ever enjoyed before； while he； incapable of speech beyond a gasped 〃Ach！〃 bowed so low that the Count had gently to adjust his kilt。 Then followed the approach of the Gallosh family； attired in costumes of Harris tweed and tartan selected and arranged under the artistic eye of Count Bunker； and escorted； to their huge delight； by six picked clansmen。 Their formal presentation having been completed by a last skirl on the bagpipes； the whole party moved in procession to the banqueting…hall。
〃A complete success； I flatter myself；〃 thought Count Bunker； with excusable complacency。
To the banquet itself it is scarcely possible for a mere mortal historian to pay a fitting tribute。 Every rarity known to the gourmet that telegraph could summon to the table in time was ser