The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

A Strmtge Revenge. 579
versation went on in a livelier strain, David's eyes ceased to
glisten, and he found himself smiling at his father's sallies.
In the young breast, hope clings to and thrives upon a
straw. David began to argue with himself that where
there was so much sprightliness and apparent health,
death might not have yet found a lurking place.
" There is another matter, by the bye," resumed the
laird, reverting to his serious vein, " which I wish to talk
about, though it concerns Richard more than anybody else.
It would be better, I think, were his marriage hastened on
a bit."
David started, and his face paled; but, fortunately, the
laird failed to notice the effect of his words.
" Flo would not object, I suppose ?" he added.
" I— I think not ; and
perhaps, as you say, father, the
sooner the marriage takes place the better—for everybody."
He might have added— " It will quench for ever the
wicked hope, which I have striven against these io^w days,
and which came, like a thing of evil, unbidden, that I
might gain the woman I love by encouraging Richard's
perfidy."
Little did he think that this small voice of the tempter,
now so half-heartedly combatted, was yet to have terrible
consequences. Could the future have at this moment been
revealed to him by the horoscope of a seer, he would have
sought heaven's protection on his knees, or have fled for
ever from the precincts of that doomed building.
" It has struck me," continued the laird, " that Richard
has been unusually quiet and taciturn lately. Has he been
having a tiff with Flo ? Somehow it has occurred to me
more than ever for some time that she is not quite so gay
now, poor lassie, as when she first came to the castle."
" I know of no quarrel, father."
" Of course not ; they'll not tell you of their tiffs and
cooings, you may be sure. But about Richard
"
" Here he is, father, to speak for himself"
Richard had entered the room hastily, looking hot and
flurried, but stopped abruptly when he saw his brother.