the carriage had returned
from the Manse (at which Captain Bruce's sharp eyes were bent
scrutinizing on the earl's face, but learned nothing thence), the
cousins separated.

The captain had faithfully promised to be up at dawn to see the
travelers off, but an apology came from him to the effect that the
morning air was too damp for his lungs, and that he had spent a
sleepless night owning to his cough.

"An' nae wonder," remarked Malcolm, cynically, as he delivered the
message, "for I heard him a' through the wee hours walkin' and walkin'
up and doun, for a' the world like a wolf in a cage. And eh, but he's
dour the day!"

"A sickly man finds it difficult not to be dour at times," said the Earl
of Cairnforth.

Chapter 10

The earl reached Edinburg in the beginning of winter, and in those days
an Edinburg winter was a very gay season. That brilliant society, which
has now become a matter of tradition, was then in its zenith. Those
renowned support-parties, where great wits, learned philosophers, and
clever and beautiful women met together, a most enjoyable company, were
going on almost every night, and drawing into their various small
circles every thing that was most attractive in the larger circle
outside.

Lord Cairnforth was a long time before he suffered himself to be drawn
in likewise; but the business which detained him in Edinburg grew more
and more tedious; he found difficulties arise on every hand, and yet he
was determined not to leave until he had done all he wanted to do. Not
only in money, but by personal influence, which, now that he tried to
use it, he found was considerable, he furthered, in many ways, the
interests of Mr. Menteith's sons. The widow, too, a gentle, helpless
woman, soon discovered where to come to, on all occasions, for counsel
and aid. Never had the earl led such a busy life--one more active,
as far as his capabilities allowed.

Still, now and then time hung on his hands, and he felt a great lack of
companionship, until, by degrees, his name and a good deal of his
history got noised abroad, and he was perfectly inundated with
acquaintances. Of course, he had it at his own option how much or how
little he went out into the world. Every advantage that rank or fortune
could give was his already; but he had another possession still--his
own as much here as in the solitudes of Cairnforth, the art of making
himself "weel likit." The mob of "good society," which is no