The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

198 The Highland Monthly.
brother—for notwithstanding the difference of years, and
want of kindred blood— you have been all that to me since
Justinian introduced us, this is the tide in your destiny that.
' taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.' Remember how
much it imports your mother and her younger children that
you should receive in a friendly, even submissive spirit, the
well meant advances of your uncle, who has come to search
you out, and to see what you are like, and on being satisfied
with you, to acknowledge you as his nephew and heir.
You imitate the injustice that you condemn in him if
disown him— yes, disown, for at his age it is a greater
you
loss
to him than to you if he fails to gather round his lonely
health a group of loving relatives."
"If he were not rich, I am sure —
" You would like him ? Now that pride of yours is
sinful. If
him—since
he were poor you would feel obliged to help
he is rich and you are poor- -don't wince—
say since you are poor he is bound to help you, and you
must accept his help. You will like him better on
acquaintance."
" In many things I do like him much. He is rough,
frank, and manly. I would be proud of him if he spoke
kindly of my father. It is so sudden. I feel the whole
thing strange yet, but I will try to respect my kinsman,
and not disoblige him if I can help it."
" That is aright resolution. But preserve me! is Mr
Greaves waiting for us inside, while we stand chattering
before the parlour window ?"
" Oh, no," answered Willie, laughing, " as I mentioned,
we went with him, Tommy and I, yesterday to Duchray's
farm, and called on the laird, who pointed out, with much
boasting, his new improvements. He knew my uncle as a
successful breeder, and wished for his favourable opinion.
But if the laird is proud of his system, so is my uncle of
his own. It was funny to hear how they disputed. Yet
they parted very good friends, and my uncle has gone to
dine at the house to-day—they'll fight their battles over
again, so one cannot tell when he may return."
"
I