In languid dejection or fretful repinings did the unhappy beauty therefore consume the tedious hours, while her husband sought alternately to soothe with fondness he no longer felt, or flatter with hopes which he knew to be groundless.  To his father alone could he now look for any assistance, and from him he was not likely to obtain it in the form he desired; as the old gentleman repeatedly declared his utter inability to advance him any ready money, or to allow him more than a hundred a year—­moreover, to be paid quarterly—­a sum which could not defray their expenses to London.

Such was the state of affairs when the Laird one morning entered the dining-room with a face of much importance, and addressed his son with, “Weel, Harry, you’re a lucky man; and it’s an ill wind that blaws naebody gude:  here’s puir Macglashan gane like snaw aff a dyke.”

“Macglashan gone!” exclaimed Miss Grizzy.  “Impossible, brother; it was only yesterday I sent him a blister for his back!”

“And I,” said Miss Jacky, “talked to him for upwards of two hours last night on the impropriety of his allowing his daughter to wear white gowns on Sunday.”

“By my troth, an’ that was eneugh to kill ony man,” muttered the Laird.

“How I am to derive any benefit from this important demise is more than I can perceive,” said Henry in a somewhat contemptuous tone.

“You see,” replied his father, “that by our agreement his farm falls vacant in consequence.”

“And I hope I am to succeed to it!” replied the son, with a smile of derision.

“Exactly!  By my faith, but you have a be in downset.  There’s three thousand and seventy-five acres of as good sheep walk as any in the whole country-side; and I shall advance you stocking and stedding, and everything complete, to your very peatstacks.  What think ye of that?” slapping his son’s shoulder, and rubbing his own hands with delight as he spoke.

Horrorstruck at a scheme which appeared to him a thousand times worse than anything his imagination had ever painted, poor Henry stood in speechless consternation; while “Charming!  Excellent!  Delightful!” was echoed by the aunts, as they crowded round, wishing him joy, and applauding their brother’s generosity.

“What will our sweet niece say to this, I wonder?” said the innocent Grizzy, who in truth wondered none.  “I would like to see her face when she hears it;” and her own was puckered into various shapes of delight.

“I have no doubt but her good sense will teach her to appreciate properly the blessings of her lot,” observed the more reflecting Jacky.

“She has had her own good luck,” quoth the sententious Nicky, “to find such a down set all cut and dry.”