The Heart of Mid-Lothian - Penn State University

Donacha had proposed to bring aboard, secured the person
of the fugitive, and having transported him to
America, sold him as a slave, or indented servant, to a
Virginian planter, far up the country. When these tidings
reached Butler, he sent over to America a sufficient
sum to redeem the lad from slavery, with instructions
that measures should be taken for improving his mind,
restraining his evil propensities, and encouraging whatever
good might appear in his character. But this aid
came too late. The young man had headed a conspiracy
in which his inhuman master was put to death, and had
then fled to the next tribe of wild Indians. He was never
more heard of; and it may therefore be presumed that
he lived and died after the manner of that savage people,
with whom his previous habits had well fitted him to
associate.
All hopes of the young man’s reformation being now
ended, Mr. and Mrs. Butler thought it could serve no
purpose to explain to Lady Staunton a history so full
of horror. She remained their guest more than a year,
during the greater part of which period her grief was
The Heart of Mid-Lothian
620
excessive. In the latter months, it assumed the appearance
of listlessness and low spirits, which the monotony
of her sister’s quiet establishment afforded no means of
dissipating. Effie, from her earliest youth, was never
formed for a quiet low content. Far different from her
sister, she required the dissipation of society to divert
her sorrow, or enhance her joy. She left the seclusion of
Knocktarlitie with tears of sincere affection, and after
heaping its inmates with all she could think of that
might be valuable in their eyes. But she did leave it;
and, when the anguish of the parting was over, her departure
was a relief to both sisters.
The family at the Manse of Knocktarlitie, in their own
quiet happiness, heard of the well-dowered and beautiful
Lady Staunton resuming her place in the fashionable
world. They learned it by more substantial proofs,
for David received a commission; and as the military
spirit of Bible Butler seemed to have revived in him, his
good behaviour qualified the envy of five hundred young
Highland cadets, “come of good houses,” who were astonished
at the rapidity of his promotion. Reuben fol-