The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

A Strange Revenge. 465
I'll be fighting you, which is about the same thing, unless
you recover your old form. What's wrong with you, man."
" Richard, you know perfectly well there is something
wrong, and that it is not with me but with yourself. Is is
fair to Flora ? don't you see she is suffering through your
conduct in preferring so much of that American girl's
company? It's a downright shame, I say, a blooming
shame."
" You have begun to take a mighty lively interest in
my affairs."
"And high time somebody was, before you make a fool
of yourself, and outrage the honour of the family."
" Bosh !—a fellow cannot always be tied to one woman's
apron string. You have the notions of a Quaker ; upon
my word, if you moped less among books, and saw more
of the world, you would be a hanged sight less good>-
goody."
" I have no ambition to follow in the footsteps of m\'
elder brother; more's the pity for him. A man who can
b2 so callous as to become engaged to two women at the
same time bids fair to outshine the rake's progress."
" Who is engaged to two women ?"
"You!"
" It's a lie!"
Now the dinner bell had actually rung, and no laird in
t!ie whole country-side was more punctual at the table than
the laird of Stuart Castle. Accordingly, John was
promptly despatched inquest of the two male members of the
family. His perambulations brought him into view of the
V\x Walk and the two brothers, and thither he consequently
liied himself, reaching the pair just as Richard was deliver-
iig himself of the above emphatic expression. Perhaps it
\>'as just as well that the accidental intervention occurred,
;is the Stuart blood was up, and, as the laird would say,
1 1 affairs
of the heart young people are prone to be rash.
•' Here is my witness to the fact," said David trium-
phantly, pointing to John, who stood looking at the angry