The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

A Strange Revenue 589
" Not a bit o'd."
" Ah ! then, when was the packing done?"
" Before he left, sir ; he would be wrightin' the addresses
for the boxes himsel', and the hale gingbang are gaun to
New York."
This was unquestionably puzzling to Richard ; but if
the Professor intended to leave the country, he argued, all
the more lucky it was that he was going to meet him-
Once out of the country, Julia would be lost to him for
ever.
" A gey queer lot," ejaculated John ;
sair missed."
" they'll no be
This summary verdict elicited no response, and the
two drove into Inverness after a prolonged silence.
That night Richard formed one of the outside pas-
sengers by a special mail it was found necessary to run
to Perth. As the coach clattered along the street, the
guard merrily blowing his bugle, he wrapped himself in his
plaid, withdrew as far as possible from his travelling com-
panions, knowing he would spend a night dismal in itself,
and one which wouldberendered doublyuncomfortablebyhis
state of anxiety, and a host of undefined fears that he could
not shake off. What, he asked himself over and over again,
might now be transpiring at the Castle ?
Just then David was pacing his bedroom in a state of
mental agitation which forbade sleep.
" And he's following that woman to Edinburgh," he
how will it all end? Poor
muttered, "perfectly infatuated ;
Flo."
But his sympathy for Flora, one would have suspected
from his face and manner, was qualified by a thought, perhaps
a hope, which was to him not ungratifying.
[to be contixced].