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her eyes； and now； in a moment； down comes upon the scene that
apocalyptic figure with the nightcap and the horse…pistol； and with
the very wind of her coming behold me separated from my love！
Gratitude and admiration contended in my breast with the extreme of
natural rancour。 My appearance in her house at past midnight had
an air （I could not disguise it from myself） that was insolent and
underhand； and could not but minister to the worst suspicions。 And
the old lady had taken it well。 Her generosity was no more to be
called in question than her courage； and I was afraid that her
intelligence would be found to match。 Certainly； Miss Flora had to
support some shrewd looks； and certainly she had been troubled。 I
could see but the one way before me： to profit by an excellent bed；
to try to sleep soon； to be stirring early； and to hope for some
renewed occasion in the morning。 To have said so much and yet to
say no more； to go out into the world upon so half…hearted a
parting； was more than I could accept。
It is my belief that the benevolent fiend sat up all night to baulk
me。 She was at my bedside with a candle long ere day； roused me；
laid out for me a damnable misfit of clothes； and bade me pack my
own （which were wholly unsuited to the journey） in a bundle。 Sore
grudging； I arrayed myself in a suit of some country fabric； as
delicate as sackcloth and about as becoming as a shroud； and； on
coming forth； found the dragon had prepared for me a hearty
breakfast。 She took the head of the table； poured out the tea； and
entertained me as I ate with a great deal of good sense and a
conspicuous lack of charm。 How often did I not regret the change！
… how often compare her； and condemn her in the comparison； with
her charming niece！ But if my entertainer was not beautiful； she
had certainly been busy in my interest。 Already she was in
communication with my destined fellow…travellers； and the device on
which she had struck appeared entirely suitable。 I was a young
Englishman who had outrun the constable； warrants were out against
me in Scotland； and it had become needful I should pass the border
without loss of time； and privately。
'I have given a very good account of you；' said she； 'which I hope
you may justify。 I told them there was nothing against you beyond
the fact that you were put to the haw （if that is the right word）
for debt。'
'I pray God you have the expression incorrectly； ma'am；' said I。
'I do not give myself out for a person easily alarmed； but you must
admit there is something barbarous and mediaeval in the sound well
qualified to startle a poor foreigner。'
'It is the name of a process in Scots Law； and need alarm no honest
man；' said she。 'But you are a very idle…minded young gentleman；
you must still have your joke； I see： I only hope you will have no
cause to regret it。'
'I pray you not to suppose； because I speak lightly； that I do not
feel deeply；' said I。 'Your kindness has quite conquered me； I lay
myself at your disposition； I beg you to believe； with real
tenderness； I pray you to consider me from henceforth as the most
devoted of your friends。'
'Well； well；' she said； 'here comes your devoted friend the drover。
I'm thinking he will be eager for the road； and I will not be easy
myself till I see you well off the premises； and the dishes washed；
before my servant…woman wakes。 Praise God； we have gotten one that
is a treasure at the sleeping！'
The morning was already beginning to be blue in the trees of the
garden； and to put to shame the candle by which I had breakfasted。
The lady rose from table； and I had no choice but to follow her
example。 All the time I was beating my brains for any means by
which I should be able to get a word apart with Flora； or find the
time to write her a billet。 The windows had been open while I
breakfasted； I suppose to ventilate the room from any traces of my
passage there； and； Master Ronald appearing on the front lawn； my
ogre leaned forth to address him。
'Ronald；' she said； 'wasn't that Sim that went by the wall？'
I snatched my advantage。 Right at her back there was pen； ink； and
paper laid out。 I wrote： 'I love you'； and before I had time to
write more； or so much as to blot what I had written； I was again
under the guns of the gold eyeglasses。
'It's time；' she began； and then； as she observed my occupation；
'Umph！' she broke off。 'Ye have something to write？' she demanded。
'Some notes； madam；' said I； bowing with alacrity。
'Notes；' she said； 'or a note？'
'There is doubtless some FINESSE of the English language that I do
not comprehend；' said I。
'I'll contrive； however； to make my meaning very plain to ye； Mosha
le Viscount；' she continued。 'I suppose you desire to be
considered a gentleman？'
'Can you doubt it； madam？' said I。
'I doubt very much； at least； whether you go to the right way about
it；' she said。 'You have come here to me； I cannot very well say
how； I think you will admit you owe me some thanks； if it was only
for the breakfast I made ye。 But what are you to me？ A waif young
man； not so far to seek for looks and manners； with some English
notes in your pocket and a price upon your head。 I am a lady； I
have been your hostess； with however little will； and I desire that
this random acquaintance of yours with my family will cease and
determine。'
I believe I must have coloured。 'Madam；' said I； 'the notes are of
no importance； and your least pleasure ought certainly to be my
law。 You have felt； and you have been pleased to express； a doubt
of me。 I tear them up。' Which you may be sure I did thoroughly。
'There's a good lad！' said the dragon； and immediately led the way
to the front lawn。
The brother and sister were both waiting us here； and； as well as I
could make out in the imperfect light； bore every appearance of
having passed through a rather cruel experience。 Ronald seemed
ashamed to so much as catch my eye in the presence of his aunt； and
was the picture of embarrassment。 As for Flora； she had scarce the
time to cast me one look before the dragon took her by the arm； and
began to march across the garden in the extreme first glimmer of
the dawn without exchanging speech。 Ronald and I followed in equal
silence。
There was a door in that same high wall on the top of which I had
sat perched no longer gone than yesterday morning。 This the old
lady set open with a key； and on the other side we were aware of a
rough…looking； thick…set man； leaning with his arms （through which
was passed a formidable staff） on a dry…stone dyke。 Him the old
lady immediately addressed。
'Sim；' said she； 'this is the young gentleman。'
Sim replied with an inarticulate grumble of sound； and a movement
of one arm and his head； which did duty for a salutation。
'Now； Mr。 St。 Ives；' said the old lady； 'it's high time for you to
be taking the road。 But first of all let me give the change of
your five…guinea bill。 Here are four pounds of it in British Linen
notes； and the balance in small silver； less sixpence。 Some charge
a shilling； I believe； but I have given you the benefit of the
doubt。 See and guide it with all the sense that you possess。'
'And here； Mr。 St。 Ives；' said Flora； speaking for the first time；
'is a plaid which you will find quite necessary on so rough a
journey。 I hope you will take it from the hands of a Scotch
friend；' she added； and her voice trembled。
'Genuine holly： I cut it myself；' said Ronald； and gave me as good
a cudgel as a man could wish for in a row。
The formality of these gifts； and the waiting figure of the driver；
told me loudly that I must be gone。 I dropped on one knee and bade
farewell to the aunt； kissing her hand。 I did the like … but with
how different a passion！ … to her niece； as for the boy； I took him
to my arms and embraced him with a cordiality that seemed to strike
him speechless。 'Farewell！' and 'Farewell！' I said。 'I shall
never forget my friends。 Keep me sometimes in memory。 Farewell！'
With that I turned my back and began to walk away； and had scarce
done so； when I heard the door in the high wall close behind me。
Of course this was the aunt's doing； and of course； if I know
anything of human character； she would not let me go without some
tart expressions。 I declare； even if I had heard them； I should
not have minded in the least； for I was quite persuaded that；
whatever admirers I might be leaving behind me in Swanston Cottage；
the aunt was not the least sincere。
CHAPTER X … THE DROVERS
IT took me a little effort to come abreast of my new companion； for
though he walked with an ugly roll and no great appearance of
speed； he could cover the around at