The Heart of Mid-Lothian - Penn State University

sister, in distress and in despair, was about to repair to
Mrs. Saddletree to consult her experience, and at the
same time to obtain what lights she could upon this most
unhappy affair, when she was saved that trouble by a
new stroke of fate, which seemed to carry misfortune
to the uttermost.
David Deans had been alarmed at the state of health
in which his daughter had returned to her paternal residence;
but Jeanie had contrived to divert him from particular
and specific inquiry. It was therefore like a clap
of thunder to the poor old man, when, just as the hour
of noon had brought the visit of the Laird of
Dumbiedikes as usual, other and sterner, as well as most
unexpected guests, arrived at the cottage of St.
Leonard’s. These were the officers of justice, with a
warrant of justiciary to search for and apprehend
Euphemia, or Effie Deans, accused of the crime of childmurder.
The stunning weight of a blow so totally unexpected
bore down the old man, who had in his early
youth resisted the brow of military and civil tyranny,
though backed with swords and guns, tortures and gib-
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bets. He fell extended and senseless upon his own hearth;
and the men, happy to escape from the scene of his awakening,
raised, with rude humanity, the object of their
warrant from her bed, and placed her in a coach, which
they had brought with them. The hasty remedies which
Jeanie had applied to bring back her father’s senses were
scarce begun to operate, when the noise of the wheels in
motion recalled her attention to her miserable sister. To
ran shrieking after the carriage was the first vain effort
of her distraction, but she was stopped by one or two
female neighbours, assembled by the extraordinary appearance
of a coach in that sequestered place, who almost
forced her back to her father’s house. The deep
and sympathetic affliction of these poor people, by
whom the little family at St. Leonard’s were held in high
regard, filled the house with lamentation. Even
Dumbiedikes was moved from his wonted apathy, and,
groping for his purse as he spoke, ejaculated, “Jeanie,
woman!—Jeanie, woman! dinna greet—it’s sad wark,
but siller will help it;” and he drew out his purse as he
spoke.