discretion of the judge, although no wound was inflicted. This was unluckily overlooked altogether: as regards civilians, no thought was taken These provisions, civil and military, how the lost remedy and protection were to would probably have fallen into desuetude be replaced; and the military authorities, or neglect like many former laws framed instead of making the mess-room a model, for the same purpose, unless opinion-at have allowed it to degenerate into about all events the loud, clamorous, unreflecting the worst school of manners in which a lad opinion of the majority - had gone along can commence his social education. Let with them. The forbidden practice was the becoming tone be inculcated and mainsimultaneously discredited by one or two tained, and we shall hear no more of perfatal instances of its extension beyond the sonal indignities in the guise of practical pale of gentility, as well as by the ridicule jokes, nor be deliberately told, on the auadroitly turned upon it from the interven- thority of an aristocratic corps, that the cortion of a cock-pheasant prior to a bloodless rect mode of resenting an insult is a resort meeting. Whilst one set of objectors to fisticuffs and kicks. Society also may do urged the wanton exposure or sacrifice much by placing rude or offensive language of life, another expatiated on the absurd- and conduct under the severest ban; ity of a pre-arranged ceremony or farce, and pointed to the very small percentage of deaths or casualties. Sir Jonah Barrington states that not less than two hundred and twenty-seven official and memorable duels were fought during his grand climacteric. The resulting loss in oratory, statesmanship, and official eminence was nil; yet the check, the penalty, the ultima ratio of wounded honour, the arbitration court for injuries not susceptible of legal remedy, were steadily and consistently upheld. whilst judges and juries must co-operate by visiting personal violence with a heavier amount of punishment than has been their wont. We are obviously not yet so far ahead of the rest of the civilized world as was vainly fancied; and it is peccliarly incumbent on those who called so loudly for the virtual abolition of the point of honour, to prevent the triumph of their opinions from turning out premature and transitory, 1 THE INS AND OUTS OF AN ENGAGEMENT. The intelligent study of that portion of the Law Reports which is occupied with trials for breach of promise may well serve to bring home to the male intellect how weak a creature is man, even under the most favorable conditions. It may be safely assumed that a gentleman who has made up his mind to break off an engagement, without any particular ground for doing so, is not troubled with an over nice sense of honor or any morbid tenderness of conscience; and yet this immense advantage of freedom from those irritating restraints under which men of less philosophical temper are left to chafe seems, in a large number of cases, to be utterly useless to its possessor. He may be supposed, in this instance at least, to know his own mind, for, however easy it may be to drift into an engagement, it is anything but easy to drift out of one. He can survey the whole field of action at his leisure, choose the precise ground on which to offer battle, and weigh with all imaginable forethought the various methods of picking a quarrel with his mistress. It might seem that, with all these advantages on his side, he could hardly fail of attaining the latter object. Even on the supposition, justified perhaps by the subsequent action, that the lady is determined to keep her prize at all hazards, he has still only to act in such a manner as to convince her that she may safely trifle with him, and her sportsmanlike taste for playing with the fish which she has so nearly landed may be trusted to do the rest. It is hardly likely that the intercourse of the lovers will not furnish at least one occasion on which she will offer a loophole through which he may wriggle out if he is so inclined. It is strange, indeed, if a woman's tongue will not give some opportunity for escape to a man who is anxious to take her at her word. But, from some cause or other, all these chances seem to come to nothing. The suitor is, it would appear, predestined to be the defendant in a breach of promise case, and he goes placidly to work to make his calling and election sure. Though his obvious policy would be to make the rejection seem the lady's work, he is for the most part studiously solicitous to establish that it is all his own. As often as not, he does the business by letter, as though to supply every possible link which can be wanted for the evidence against him; or, if he prefers to make the announcement in his own person, he has probably allowed his attentions to grow cool for some time beforehand, and thus given her warning that she is not to tempt success too far. The accumu lated experience of so many trials is as useless to each new defendant as other people's experience is commonly found to be, and the record of his artless movements reads for all the world as though he had taken each successive step by the advice of the plaintiff's attorney. PART XVI. CHAPTER XLVI. life consisted in a r a repetition over and over of the same things, the same thoughts, pretty nearly the same words. To be sure, he had Ir was, as we have said, a lovely summer a wife, and children, and domestic happimorning when Colin set out on his excur- ness; but Colin, at his time of life, made but sion, after the fatigues of the winter and a secondary account of that. He looked at spring. His first stage was naturally Ra- the manse accordingly with a smile as he more, where he arrived the same evening, passed on out of sight. The manse of Lafhaving picked up Lauderdale at Glasgow ton was not nearly so lovely, but-it was on his way. A more beautiful evening had different; though perhaps he could not have never shone over the Holy Loch; and, as told how. And the same thought was in the two friends approached Ramore, all the his mind as he went on past all the tranquil western sky was flaming behind the dark houses. How did they manage to keep exhills, which stood up in austere shadow, isting, those people for whom life was over, f shutting out from the Loch and its immedi- who had ceased to look beyond the day, or ate banks the later glories of the sunset. to anticipate either good or evil? To be To leave the eastern shore, where the light still lingered, and steal up under the shadow into the soft beginning of the twilight, with Ramore, that "shines where it stands," looking out hospitably from the brae, was like leaving the world of noise and commotion for the primitive life, with its silence and its thoughts; and so, indeed, Colin felt it, though his world was but another country parish, primitive enough in its ways. But then it must not be forgotten that there is a difference between the kingdom of Fife, where wheat grows golden on the broad fields, and where the herrings come up to the shore to be salted and packed in barrels, and the sweet Loch half hidden among the hills, where the cornfields arc scant and few, and where grouse and heather divide the country with the beasts and the pastures, and where, in short, Gaelic was spoken within the memory of man. Perhaps there was something of the vanity of youth in that look of observation and half amused, half curious criticism which the young man cast upon the peaceful manse, where the minister, who had red hair, had painfully begun his career when Colin himself was a boy. It was hard to believe that anything ever could happen in that calm house, thus reposing among its trees, with only a lawn between it and the church, and looking as peaceful and retired and silent as the church itself did. It is true Colin knew very well that things both bitter and joyful had happened there within his own recollection; but that did not prevent the thought striking him, as he glided past in the little bustling steamer, which somehow, by the contrast, gave a more absolute stillness to the pretty rural landscape. Perhaps the minister was walking out at that moment, taking his peaceful stroll along the dewy road, a man whose life was all fixed and settled long ago, to whom nothing could ever happen in his own person, and whose sure this was very unreasonable musing; for Colin was aware that things did happen now and then on the Holy Loch. Somebody died occasionally, when it was impossible to help it, and by turns somebody was born, and there even occurred, at rare intervals, a marriage, with its suggestion of life beginning; but these domestic incidents were not what he was thinking of. Life seemed to be in its quiet evening over all that twilight coast; and then it was the morning with Colin, and it did not seem possible for him to exist without the hopes, and motives, and excitements which made ceaseless movement and commotion in his soul. To be sure, he too was only a country minister, and was expected to live and die among "his people" as peaceably as his prototype was doing on the Holy Loch; and this thought somehow it was that, falling into his mind like a humorous suggestion, made Colin smile; for his ideas did not take that peaceful turn at this period of his existence. He was so full of what had to be done, even of what he himself had to do, that the silence seemed to recede before him, and to rustle and murmur round him as he carried into it his conscious and restless life. He had even such a wealth of existence to dispose of that it kept flowing on in two or three distinct channels, a thing which amused him when he thought of it. For underneath all this sense of contrast, and Lauderdale's talk, and his own watch for the Ramore boat, and his mother at the door, No. 1 of the Tracts for the Times was at the same time shaping itself in Colin's brain; and there are moments when a man can stand apart from himself, and note what is going on in his own mind. He was talking to Lauderdale, and greeting the old friends who recognised him in the boat, and looking out for home, and planning his tract, and making that contrast between the evening and the morning all at the same moment. And at the same time he had taken off the front of his mental habitation, and was looking at all those different processes going on in its different compartments with a curious sense of amusement. Such were the occupations of his mind as he went up to the Loch, to that spot where the Ramore boat lay waiting on the rippled surface. It was a different homecoming from any that he had ever made before. Formerly his prospects were vague, and it never was quite certain what he might make of himself. Now he had fulfilled all the ambitions of his family, as far as his position went. There was nothing more to hope for or to desire in that particular; and, naturally, Colin felt that his influence with his father and brothers at least would be enhanced by the realization of those hopes, which, up to this time, had always been mingled with a little uncertainty. He forgot all about that when he grasped the hands of Archie and of the farmer, and dashed up the brae to where the Mistress stood wistful at the door; but, notwithstanding, there was a difference, and it was one which was sufficiently apparent to all. As for his mother, she smoothed down the sleeve of his black coat with her kind hand, and examined with a tender smile the cut of the waistcoat which Colin had brought from Oxford-though, to tell the truth, he had still a stolen inclination for "mufti," and wore his uniform only when a solemn occasion occurred like this, and on grand parade; but, for all her joy and satisfaction at sight of him, the Mistress still looked a little shattered and broken, and had never forgotten -though Colin had forgotten it long ago the "objections" of the parish of Lafton, and all that her son had had "to come through," as she said, "before he was placed." "I suppose a's weel now?" Mrs. Campbell said. "No that I could have any doubts in my own mind, so far as you were concerned; but, the mair experience a person has, the less hope they have in other folk though that's an awfu' thing to say, and gangs against Scripture. Me that thought there was not a living man that could say a word of blame to my Colin! And to think of a' the lees that were invented. His father there says it's a necessary evil, and that we maun have popular rights; but for me I canna see the necessity. I'm no for doing evil that good may come," said the Mistress; "it's awfu' papistry that- and to worry a poor callant to death, and drive a' that belongs to him out o' their wits allege onything against a man's morality I'm no so much heeding; and it's a poor kind of thing to be put in by a patron that doesna care a pin, and gangs to another kirk." "I'm awfu' shaken in my mind about that," said the Mistress; "there's the Free Kirk folk-though I'm no for making an example of them-fighting among themselves about their new minister, like thae puir senseless creatures in America. Thamas, at the Mill-head, is for the ane candidate, and his brother Dugald for the tither; and they're like to tear each other's een out when they meet. That's ill enough, but Lafton's waur. I'm no for setting up priests, nor making them a sacerdotal caste as some folk say; but will you tell me," said Mrs. Campbell, indignantly, "that a wheen ignorant weavers and canailye like that can judge my Colin? ay, or even if it was thae Fife farmers driving in their gigs. I would like to ken what he studied for and took a' thae honours, and gave baith time and siller, if he wasna to ken better than the like of them. I'm no pretending to meddle. with politics that are out of my way- - but I canna shut my een," the Mistress said, emphatically. "The awfu' business is that we've nae respect to speak of for onything but ourselves; we're so awfu' fond of our ain bit poor opinions, and the little we ken. If there was ony chance in our parish-and the minister's far from weel, by a' I can hear and that man round the point at the English chapel was na such an awfu' haveril-I would be tempted to flee away out of their fechts and their objections, and get a quiet Sabbath-day there." I'm no for buying peace. so dear, for my part," said Lauderdale; "they're terrible haverils, most of the English ministers in our pairts, as the Mistress says. We're a' in a kind of dissenting way now-a-days, the mair's the pity. Whisht a moment, callant, and let a man speak. I'm no saying onything against dissent; it's a wee hard in its ways, and it has an awfu' opinion of itsel', and there's nae beauty in it that it should be desired; but, when your mind's made up. to have popular rights and your ain way in everything, I canna see onything else for it, for my part. It's pure democracy - that's what it is and democracy means naething else, as far as I'm informed, but the reign of them that kens the least and skreighs the loudest. It's no a bonnie spectacle, but I'm no a man that demands beauty under a" "He's not dead yet," said the farmer, conditions. Our friend the curate yonder," nor me out of my ordinary. I'll not say said Lauderdale, pointing his finger vaguely it's pleasant; but so long as they canna over his shoulder to indicate Wodensbourne,, LIVING AGE. VOL. XXIX. 1325. THIRD SERIES. "was awfu' taken up about his auld arches that come warmest, and touch deepest to the and monuments-that's what you ca' the heart. chancel, I suppose; but as for our young But, meanwhile, and attending the end of minister here, though he's just as caring about the world, Colin, when he was settled for thae vanities, it's a' filled up with good deal the night in his old room, with its shelving boards and put behind his back like a hidie-roof, took out and elaborated his Tract for hole. There's something awfu' instructive the Times. It was discontent as great as that in that; for I wouldna say that the compar- of his mother's which breathed out of it; ison was ony way in the curate's favour," but then hers was the discontent of a life said the philosopher, with a gleam of sup- which had nothing new to do or to look for, pressed pride and tenderness, "if you were and which had found out by experience how to turn your een to the pulpit and take your little progress can be made in a lifetime, choice of the men." and how difficult it is to change evil into good. Colin's discontent, on the contrary, was that exhilarating sentiment which stim Mrs. Campbell lifted her eyes to her son's face and regarded him solemnly as Lauderdale spoke; but she could not escape the in-ulates youth, and opens up an endless field fluence of the recollection that even Colin had been objected to. "Nae doubt the like of him in a kirk should make a difference," she said with candour, yet melancholy, "but I dinna see what's to be the end of it for my part-a change for good is aye awfu' slow to work, and I'll no live to see the new days." of combat and conquest. At his end of the road it looked only natural that the obstacles should move of themselves out of the way, and that which was just and best should have the inevitable victory. When he had done, he thought with a tenderness which brought tears to his eyes, yet at the same moment a smile to his lips, of the woman's "You'll live to see all I am good for, moth-impatience that would hasten the wheels of er," said Colin; "and it appears to me you are all' a set of heretics and schismatics. Lauderdale is past talking to, but I expected something better of you." "Weel, we'll a' see," said big Colin, who in his heart could not defend an order of ecclesiastical economy which permitted his son to be assaulted by the parish of Lafton, or any other parish, "if it's the will of God. We're none of us so awfu' auld; but the world's aye near its ending to a woman that sees her son slighted; there's nae penitence can make for that up no that he's suffered much that I can see," the farmer said with a laugh. "That's enough of the Kirk for one night." fate, and call upon God to take matters, as she said, in his own hand. That did not, as yet, seem a step necessary to Colin. He thought there was still time to work by the natural means, and that things were not arrived at such a pass that it was needful to appeal to miracle. It could only be when human means had failed that such a resource could be necessary; and the human means had certainly not failed entirely so long as he stood there in the bloom of his young strength, with his weapons in his hand. He preached in his native church on the following Sunday, as was to be expected; and from up the Loch and down the Loch all the world came to hear young Colin of Ra "Eh, Colin, dinna be so worldly," said more. And Colin the farmer, the elder, sat his wife; "I think whiles it would be an glorious at the end of his pew, and in the awfu' blessing if the world was to end as pride of his heart listened, and noted, and some folk think; and a' thing cleared up, made inexorable criticisms, and commented and them joined again that had been parted, on his son's novel ideas with a severe irony and the bonnie earth safe through the fire-which it was difficult to understand in its true if it's to be by fire," she added with a ques- sense. The Duke himself came to hear tioning glance towards her son; "I canna Colin's sermon, which was a wonderful honthink but it's ower good to be true. When I mind upon a' we've to go through in this life, and a' that is so hard to mend; eh, if He would but take it in His ain hand!" said the Mistress with tears in her eyes. No one was so hard-hearted as to preach to her at that moment, or to enlarge upon the fact that everything was in His hand, as indeed she knew as well as her companions; but it happens sometimes that the prayers and the wishes which are out of reason, are those our for the young man, and all the parish critizised him with a zest which it was exhil arating to hear. "I mind when he couldna say his Questions," said Evan of Barnton; “I wouldna like to come under ony engagement that he kens them noo. He was aye a callant awfu' fond of his ain opinion, and for my part I'm no for Presbyteries, passing ower objections so easy. Either he's of Jowett's school or he's no; but I never saw that there was ony right decision come to. There were some awfu' suspicious expressions under his second head-if you could ca' yon a head," said the spiritual ruler, with natural contempt; for indeed Colin's divisions were not what they ought to have been, and he was perfectly open to criticism so far as that was concerned. "A lot of that was out of Maurice," said another thoughtful spectator. "I'm aye doubtful of thae misty phrases. If it wasna for hurting a' their feelings I would be awfu' tempted to say a word. He's no' that auld, and he might mend. CHAPTER XLVII. As for Colin and his friend, they went upon their way steadily, with that rare sympathy in difference which is the closest bond of friendship. Lauderdale by this time had lost all the lingerings of youth which had hung long about him, perhaps by right of his union with the fresh and exuberant youth of his brother-in-arms. His gaunt person was gaunter than ever, though, by an impulse of the tenderest pride-not for himself but for his companion-his dress fitted him better, and was more carefully "He'll never mend," said Evan. "I'm put on than it had ever been during all his no one that ever approved of the upbringing life; but his long hair, once so black and of these laddies. They have ower much opin-wild, was now gray, and hung.in thin locks, ion of themselves. There's Archie, that and his beard, that relic of Italy, which thinks he knows the price of cattle better Lauderdale preserved religiously, and had than a man of twice his age. She's an aw- ceased to be ashamed of, was gray also, and fu' fanciful woman, that mother of theirsadded to the somewhat solemn aspect of his and then they've a' been a wee spoiled with long thoughtful face. He was still an inch that business about the English callant; but or two taller than Colin, whose great waves I'll no say but what he has abilities," the of brown hair, tossed up like clouds upon critic added, with a national sense of clan- his forehead, and shining brown eyes, which ship. The parish might not approve of the even now had not quite lost the soft shade upbringing of the young Campbells, nor of of surprise and admiration which had given their opinions, but still it had a national them such a charm in their earlier years, share in any reputation that the family or contrasted strangely with the worn looks of any of its members might attain. his friend. They were not like father and Colin continued his course on the Mon- son, for Lauderdale preserved in his apday with his friend. He had stayed but a pearance an indefinable air of solitude and few days at home, but it was enough, and of a life apart, which made it impossible to all the party were sensible of the fact. think of him in any such relationship; but Henceforward that home, precious as it was, perhaps their union was more close and could not count for much in his life. It was real than even that tie could have made it, a hard thing to think of, but it was a neces- since the unwedded childless man was at sity of nature. Archie and the younger once young and old, and had kept in his sons greeted with enthusiasm the elder heart a virgin freshness more visionary, and brother, who shared with them his better perhaps even more spotless, than that of fortunes and higher place; but, when the Colin's untarnished youth-for, to be sure, greeting was given on both sides, there did the young man not only was conscious of not remain very much to say; for, to be that visionary woman in the clouds, but had sure, seen by Colin's side, the young Camp- already solaced himself with more than one bells, still gauche, and shamefaced, and with love, and still meant to marry a wife like the pride of a Scotch peasant in arms, look- other men, though that was not at present ed inferior to what they really were, and the foremost idea in his mind; whereas felt so and the mother felt it for them, whatever love Lauderdale might have had though Colin was her own immediate heir in that past from which he never drew the and the pride of her heart. She bade veil, it had never been replaced by another, him farewell with suppressed tears, and a nor involved any earthly hope. This made sense of loss which was not to be suppress-him naturally more sympathetic than a man ed. "He has his ain hame, and his ain place, and little need of us now, the Lord be praised," the Mistress said to herself as she watched him going down to the boat; "I think I would be real content if he had but a good wife." But still it was with a sigh that she went in again and closed the door upon the departing boat that carried her son back to the world. who had gone through all the ordinary ex- 1 |