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The Heart of Mid-Lothian - Penn State University

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neglect.” This was said apparently with great good<br />

humour, and in a tone which expressed a desire <strong>of</strong> conciliation.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Duke replied, “That he would account himself<br />

the most unfortunate <strong>of</strong> men, if he could be supposed<br />

capable <strong>of</strong> neglecting his duty, in modes and circumstances<br />

when it was expected, and would have been<br />

agreeable. He was deeply gratified by the honour which<br />

her Majesty was now doing to him personally; and he<br />

trusted she would soon perceive that it was in a matter<br />

essential to his Majesty’s interest that he had the boldness<br />

to give her this trouble.”<br />

“You cannot oblige me more, my Lord Duke,” replied<br />

the Queen, “than by giving me the advantage <strong>of</strong> your<br />

lights and experience on any point <strong>of</strong> the King’s service.<br />

Your Grace is aware, that I can only be the medium<br />

through which the matter is subjected to his<br />

Majesty’s superior wisdom; but if it is a suit which respects<br />

your Grace personally, it shall lose no support by<br />

being preferred through me.”<br />

“It is no suit <strong>of</strong> mine, madam,” replied the Duke; “nor<br />

Sir Walter Scott<br />

451<br />

have I any to prefer for myself personally, although I<br />

feel in full force my obligation to your Majesty. It is a<br />

business which concerns his Majesty, as a lover <strong>of</strong> justice<br />

and <strong>of</strong> mercy, and which, I am convinced, may be<br />

highly useful in conciliating the unfortunate irritation<br />

which at present subsists among his Majesty’s good subjects<br />

in Scotland.”<br />

<strong>The</strong>re were two parts <strong>of</strong> this speech disagreeable to<br />

Caroline. In the first place, it removed the flattering<br />

notion she had adopted, that Argyle designed to use her<br />

personal intercession in making his peace with the administration,<br />

and recovering the employments <strong>of</strong> which<br />

he had been deprived; and next, she was displeased that<br />

he should talk <strong>of</strong> the discontents in Scotland as irritations<br />

to be conciliated, rather than suppressed.<br />

Under the influence <strong>of</strong> these feelings, she answered<br />

hastily, “That his Majesty has good subjects in England,<br />

my Lord Duke, he is bound to thank God and the laws—<br />

that he has subjects in Scotland, I think he may thank<br />

God and his sword.”<br />

<strong>The</strong> Duke, though a courtier, coloured slightly, and

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