amongst all large bodies of people;
however, after the tribe had been governed for upwards of thirty years by
such a person as old Fraser, it were no wonder if the greater part had
become either rogues or fools; he was a ruthless tyrant, Belle, over his
own people, and by his cruelty and rapaciousness must either have stunned
them into an apathy approaching to idiocy, or made them artful knaves in
their own defence. The qualities of parents are generally transmitted to
their descendants--the progeny of trained pointers are almost sure to
point, even without being taught; if, therefore, all Frasers are either
rogues or fools, as this person seems to insinuate, it is little to be
wondered at, their parents or grandparents having been in the
training-school of old Fraser; but enough of the old tyrant and his
slaves. Belle, prepare tea this moment or dread my anger. I have not a
gold-headed cane like old Fraser of Lovat, but I have, what some people
would dread much more, an Armenian rune-stick.'

CHAPTER V

FRESH ARRIVALS--PITCHING THE TENT--CERTIFICATED WIFE--HIGH-FLYING NOTIONS

On the following morning, as I was about to leave my tent, I heard the
voice of Belle at the door, exclaiming, 'Sleepest thou, or wakest thou?'
'I was never more awake in my life,' said I, going out. 'What is the
matter?' 'He of the horse-shoe,' {29a} said she, 'Jasper, {29b} of whom
I have heard you talk, is above there on the field with all his people; I
went about a quarter of an hour ago to fill the kettle at the spring, and
saw them arriving.' 'It is well,' said I; 'have you any objection to
asking him and his wife to breakfast?' 'You can do as you please,' said
she; 'I have cups enough, and have no objection to their company.' 'We
are the first occupiers of the ground,' said I, 'and being so, should
consider ourselves in the light of hosts, and do our best to practise the
duties of hospitality.' 'How fond you are of using that word,' said
Belle, 'if you wish to invite the man and his wife, do so, without more
ado; remember, however, that I have not cups enough, nor, indeed, tea
enough, for the whole company.' Thereupon hurrying up the ascent, I
presently found myself outside the dingle. It was, as usual, a brilliant
morning, the dewy blades of the rye-grass which covered the plain
sparkled brightly in the beams of the sun, which had probably been about
two hours above the horizon. A rather numerous body of my ancient
f