The Heart of Mid-Lothian - Penn State University

had chosen to join his friend in consideration that dinner
was to be put back till after the afternoon service,
made a hearty luncheon, which lasted for half-an-hour,
and might not then have concluded, had not his Reverence
rung his bell, so that Tummas was obliged to at-
tend his master. Then, and no sooner, to save himself
the labour of a second journey to the other end of the
house, he announced to his master the arrival of Mr.
Stubbs, with the other madwoman, as he chose to des-
The Heart of Mid-Lothian
394
ignate Jeanie, as an event which had just taken place.
He returned with an order that Mr. Stubbs and the young
woman should be instantly ushered up to the library.
The beadle bolted in haste his last mouthful of fat bacon,
washed down the greasy morsel with the last rinsings
of the pot of ale, and immediately marshalled
Jeanie through one or two intricate passages which led
from the ancient to the more modern buildings, into a
handsome little hall, or anteroom, adjoining to the library,
and out of which a glass door opened to the lawn.
“Stay here,” said Stubbs, “till I tell his Reverence you
are come.”
So saying, he opened a door and entered the library.
Without wishing to hear their conversation, Jeanie, as
she was circumstanced, could not avoid it; for as Stubbs
stood by the door, and his Reverence was at the upper
end of a large room, their conversation was necessarily
audible in the anteroom.
“So you have brought the young woman here at last,
Mr. Stubbs. I expected you some time since. You know I
do not wish such persons to remain in custody a mo-