hinvar, came
to town. I, that asked only meat and house-room, companied not much with
the braver folk who sought the society of my cousin of Lochinvar. Wat
glanced here and there in some new bravery every day, and I saw him but
seldom. However, my lady aunt came to see me when she had been but three
days in town. For she was punctilious about the claims of blood and
kinship, which, indeed, women mostly think much more of than do men.

"A good morning, cousin," said she, "and how speeds the suit?"

Then I told her somewhat of the law's delays and how I had an excellent
lawyer, albeit choleric and stormy in demeanour,--one of mine own name,
Mr. William Gordon, though his pleas were drawn by James Stewart,
presently in hiding. What Gordon said went down well with my Lords of
the Council meeting in Holyrood, for he was a great swearer and damned
freely in his speech. But Hugh Wallace, that was the King's cash-keeper,
claimed the fine because that my father was a heritor--conform to the
Acts of Parliament made against these delinquencies and conventicles in
1670 and 1672, appointing the fines of heritors being transgressors to
come into the treasury. But Sir George Mackenzie said, "If this plea be
not James Stewart's drawing I have no skill of law. Tell me, Gordon, gin
ye drew this yoursel' or is James Stewart in Scotland?"

Then my lady of Lochinvar asked of me when I thought my matters might be
brought to an end.

"That I know not," said I; "it seems slow enough."

"All law is slow, save that which my man and your father got," said she.

I was astonished that she should mention her man, with that courage and
countenance, and the story not six months old; indeed, his very head
sticking on the Netherbow, not a mile from us as we talked. But she saw
some part of this in my face, and quickly began to say on.

"You Gordons never think you die honest unless you die in arms against
the King. But ye stand well together, though your hand is against every
other man. And that is why I, that am but a tacked-on Gordon, come to
help you if so be I can; though I and my boy stand for the King, and you
and your rebel brother Sandy for the Covenants. Weary fa' them--that
took my man from me--for he was a good man to me, though we agreed but
ill together concerning kings and politics."

"Speak for my brother Sandy," I said, "I am no strong sufferer, and so
shall get me, I fear me, no golden garments."

Thus I spoke in my ignorance,