The Heart of Mid-Lothian - Penn State University

mouth, and pointing to the thicket with the other, “he
is yonder.” She said this in a tone which showed that
her husband had found means to inspire her with awe,
as well as affection. At this moment a man issued from
the wood.
It was young Staunton. Even by the imperfect light
of the moon, Jeanie could observe that he was handsomely
dressed, and had the air of a person of rank.
“Effie,” he said, “our time is well-nigh spent—the skiff
will be aground in the creek, and I dare not stay longer.—
I hope your sister will allow me to salute her?” But Jeanie
shrunk back from him with a feeling of internal abhorrence.
“Well,” he said, “it does not much signify; if you
keep up the feeling of ill-will, at least you do not act
upon it, and I thank you for your respect to my secret,
when a word (which in your place I would have spoken
at once) would have cost me my life. People say, you
should keep from the wife of your bosom the secret that
concerns your neck—my wife and her sister both know
mine, and I shall not sleep a wink the less sound.”
“But are you really married to my sister, sir?” asked
The Heart of Mid-Lothian
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Jeanie, in great doubt and anxiety; for the haughty, careless
tone in which he spoke seemed to justify her worst
apprehensions.
“I really am legally married, and by my own name,”
replied Staunton, more gravely.
“And your father—and your friends?”
“And my father and my friends must just reconcile
themselves to that which is done and cannot be undone,”
replied Staunton. “However, it is my intention, in order
to break off dangerous connections, and to let my friends
come to their temper, to conceal my marriage for the
present, and stay abroad for some years. So that you
will not hear of us for some time, if ever you hear of us
again at all. It would be dangerous, you must be aware,
to keep up the correspondence; for all would guess that
the husband of Effie was the—what shall I call myself?—the
slayer of Porteous.”
Hard-hearted light man! thought Jeanie—to what a
character she has intrusted her happiness!—She has
sown the wind, and maun reap the whirlwind.
“Dinna think ill o’ him,” said Effie, breaking away