, and found nobody but a tall, pretty, grey-eyed lass
in the female habit! As for the cobbler, he was "over the hills ayont
Dumblane," and it's thought that poor Scotland will have to console
herself without him. I drank Catriona's health this night in public.
Indeed, the whole town admires her; and I think the beaux would wear
bits of her garters in their button-holes if they could only get them. I
would have gone to visit her in prison too, only I remembered in time I
was papa's daughter; so I wrote her a billet instead, which I entrusted
to the faithful Doig, and I hope you will admit I can be political when
I please. The same faithful gomeril is to despatch this letter by the
express along with those of the wiseacres, so that you may hear Tom Fool
in company with Solomon. Talking of _gomerils_, do tell _Dauvit
Balfour_. I would I could see the face of him at the thought of a
long-legged lass in such a predicament! to say nothing of the levities
of your affectionate daughter, and his respectful friend.' So my rascal
signs herself!" continued Prestongrange. "And you see, Mr. David, it is
quite true what I tell you, that my daughters regard you with the most
affectionate playfulness."

"The gomeril is much obliged," said I.

"And was not this prettily done?" he went on. "Is not this Highland maid
a piece of a heroine?"

"I was always sure she had a great heart," said I. "And I wager she
guessed nothing.... But I beg your pardon, this is to tread upon
forbidden subjects."

"I will go bail she did not," he returned, quite openly. "I will go bail
she thought she was flying straight into King George's face."

Remembrance of Catriona, and the thought of her lying in captivity,
moved me strangely. I could see that even Prestongrange admired, and
could not withhold his lips from smiling when he considered her
behaviour. As for Miss Grant, for all her ill habit of mockery, her
admiration shone out plain. A kind of a heat came on me.

"I am not your lordship's daughter ..." I began.

"That I know of!" he put in, smiling.

"I speak like a fool," said I; "or rather I began wrong. It would
doubtless be unwise in Mistress Grant to go to her in prison; but for
me, I think I would look like a half-hearted friend if I did not fly
there instantly."

"So-ho, Mr. David," says he; "I thought that you and I were in a
bargain?"

"My lord," I said, "when I made that bargain I was a good deal affected
by your goodness, but I'll n