h this unexpected burst
of feeling and attachment. 'Mr. Sampson,' said Mac-Morlan, after having
had recourse to his snuff-box and handkerchief alternately, 'my house is
large enough, and if you will accept of a bed there while Miss Bertram
honours us with her residence, I shall think myself very happy, and my
roof much favoured, by receiving a man of your worth and fidelity.' And
then, with a delicacy which was meant to remove any objection on Miss
Bertram's part to bringing with her this unexpected satellite, he added,
'My business requires my frequently having occasion for a better
accountant than any of my present clerks, and I should be glad to have
recourse to your assistance in that way now and then.'

'Of a surety, of a surety,' said Sampson eagerly; 'I understand
book-keeping by double entry and the Italian method.'

Our postilion had thrust himself into the room to announce his chaise and
horses; he tarried, unobserved, during this extraordinary scene, and
assured Mrs. Mac-Candlish it was the most moving thing he ever saw; 'the
death of the grey mare, puir hizzie, was naething till't.' This trifling
circumstance afterwards had consequences of greater moment to the
Dominie.

The visitors were hospitably welcomed by Mrs. Mac-Morlan, to whom, as
well as to others, her husband intimated that he had engaged Dominie
Sampson's assistance to disentangle some perplexed accounts, during which
occupation he would, for convenience sake, reside with the family. Mr.
Mac-Morlan's knowledge of the world induced him to put this colour upon
the matter, aware that, however honourable the fidelity of the Dominie's
attachment might be both to his own heart and to the family of
Ellangowan, his exterior ill qualified him to be a'squire of dames,' and
rendered him, upon the whole, rather a ridiculous appendage to a
beautiful young woman of seventeen.

Dominie Sampson achieved with great zeal such tasks as Mr. Mac-Morlan
chose to entrust him with; but it was speedily observed that at a certain
hour after breakfast he regularly disappeared, and returned again about
dinner-time. The evening he occupied in the labour of the office. On
Saturday he appeared before Mac-Morlan with a look of great triumph, and
laid on the table two pieces of gold. 'What is this for, Dominie?' said
Mac-Morlan.

'First to indemnify you of your charges in my behalf, worthy sir; and the
balance for the use of Miss Lucy Bertram.'

'But, Mr. Sampson, your la