appear to others; and now, after the strong admiration
I had just experienced and the immoderacy with which
I had continued my vain purchases, I began to think
of it myself as very hasarded. I bethought me,
if I had a sister indeed, whether I would so expose
her; then, judging the case too problematical, I varied
my question into this, whether I would so trust Catriona
in the hands of any other Christian being: the
answer to which made my face to burn. The more
cause, since I had been entrapped and had entrapped
the girl into an undue situation, that I should behave
in it with scrupulous nicety. She depended on
me wholly for her bread and shelter; in case I should
alarm her delicacy, she had no retreat. Besides,
I was her host and her protector; and the more irregularly
I had fallen in these positions, the less excuse for
me if I should profit by the same to forward even
the most honest suit; for with the opportunities that
I enjoyed, and which no wise parent would have suffered
for a moment, even the most honest suit would be unfair.
I saw I must be extremely hold-off in my relations;
and yet not too much so neither; for if I had no right
to appear at all in the character of a suitor, I must
yet appear continually, and if possible agreeably,
in that of host. It was plain I should require
a great deal of tact and conduct, perhaps more than
my years afforded. But I had rushed in where
angels might have feared to tread, and there was no
way out of that position, save by behaving right while
I was in it. I made a set of rules for my guidance;
prayed for strength to be enabled to observe them,
and as a more human aid to the same end purchased a
study book in law. This being all that I could
think of, I relaxed from these grave considerations;
whereupon my mind bubbled at once into an effervescency
of pleasing spirits, and it was like one treading on
air that I turned homeward. As I thought that
name of home, and recalled the image of that figure
awaiting me between four walls, my heart beat upon
my bosom.
My troubles began with my return. She ran to
greet me with an obvious and affecting pleasure.
She was clad, besides, entirely in the new clothes
that I had bought for her; looked in them beyond expression
well; and must walk about and drop me curtseys to display
them and to be admired. I am sure I did it with
an ill grace, for I thought to have choked upon the
words.
“Well,” she said, “if you will not
be caring for my pretty clothes, see what I have done
with our two chambers.” And she showed me
the place all very finely swept and the fires glowing
in the two chimneys.
I was glad of a chance to seem a little more severe
than I quite felt. “Catriona,” said
I, “I am very much displeased with you, and you
must never again lay a hand upon my room. One
of us two must have the rule while we are here together;
it is most fit it should be I who am both the man
and the elder; and I give you that for my command.”