ve countenance.

"I have read a little of it, Corporal, but I've heard much more. The
lady who brought me up had Scottish blood in her veins, and was fond of
the subject."

"I'll warrant ye, the Sergeant no' troubled himself to expatiate on the
renown of the country where his regiment was raised?"

"My father has other things to think of, and the little I know was got
from the lady I have mentioned."

"She'll no' be forgetting to tall ye o' Wallace?"

"Of him I've even read a good deal."

"And o' Bruce, and the affair of Bannockburn?"

"Of that too, as well as of Culloden Muir."

The last of these battles was then a recent event, it having actually
been fought within the recollection of our heroine, whose notions of it,
however, were so confused that she scarcely appreciated the effect her
allusion might produce on her companion. She knew it had been a victory,
and had often heard the guests of her patroness mention it with triumph;
and she fancied their feelings would find a sympathetic chord in those
of every British soldier. Unfortunately, M'Nab had fought throughout
that luckless day on the side of the Pretender; and a deep scar that
garnished his face had been left there by the sabre of a German soldier
in the service of the House of Hanover. He fancied that his wound bled
afresh at Mabel's allusion; and it is certain that the blood rushed
to his face in a torrent, as if it would pour out of his skin at the
cicatrix.

"Hoot! hoot awa'!" he fairly shouted, "with your Culloden and Sherriff
muirs, young woman; ye'll no' be understanding the subject at all,
and will manifest not only wisdom but modesty in speaking o' your ain
country and its many failings. King George has some loyal subjects in
the colonies, na doubt, but 'twill be a lang time before he sees or
hears any guid of them."

Mabel was surprised at the Corporal's heat, for she had not the smallest
idea where the shoe pinched; but she was determined not to give up the
point.

"I've always heard that the Scotch had two of the good qualities of
soldiers," she said, "courage and circumspection; and I feel persuaded
that Corporal M'Nab will sustain the national renown."

"Ask yer own father, Mistress Dunham; he is acquaint' with Corporal
M'Nab, and will no' be backward to point out his demerits. We have been
in battle thegither, and he is my superior officer, and has a sort o'
official right to give the characters of his subordinates."

"My fathe