He will be fortunate if he lights on any one here, who can do him the office of groom of the chamber.” "I would he would appear," said the Abbot, "for here comes the Refectioner with the collation -By my faith, the ride hath given me a sharp appetite." because pointed with metal like the laces of women's stays) which attached the doublet to the hose. They were very numerous, and required assistance to tie them properly, which was called trussing. CHAPTER V. I'll seek for other aid-Spirits, they say, JAMES DUFF. TAE reader's attention must be recalled to Halbert Glendinning, who had left the tower of Glendearg immediately after his quarrel with its new guest Sir Piercie Shafton. As he walked with a rapid pace up the glen, old Martin followed him, beseeching him to be less hasty. 66 Halbert," said the old man, you will never live to have white hair, if you take fire thus at every spark of provocation." "And why should I wish it, old man,” said Halbert, "if I am to be the butt that every fool may aim a shaft of scorn against?—What avails it, old man, that you yourself move, sleep and wake, eat thy niggard meal, and repose on thy hard pallet?— Why art thou so well pleased that the morning should call thee up to daily toil, and the evening again lay thee down a wearied-out wretch? Were it not better sleep and wake no more, than to undergo this dull exchange of labour for insensibility, and of insensibility for labour?" "God help me," answered Martin, "there may be truth in what thou sayest-but walk slower, for my old limbs cannot keep pace with your young legswalk slower, and I will tell you why age, though unlovely, is yet endurable." Speak on then," said Halbert, slackening his pace; "but remember we must seek venison to refresh the fatigues of these holy men, who will this morning have achieved a journey of six miles; and if we reach not the Brocksburn head, we are scarce like to see an antler." “Then know, my good Halbert," said Martin, "whom I love as my own son, that I am satisfied to live till death calls me, because my Maker wills it. Aye, and although I spend what men call a hard life, pinched with cold in winter, and burnt with heat in summer, though I feed hard and sleep hard, and am held mean and despised, yet I bethink me, that were I of no use on the face of this fair creation, God would withdraw me from it." "Thou poor old man," said Halbert, "and can such a vain conceit as this of thy fancied use, recon VOL. II. E cile thee to a world where thou playest so poor a part?" 66 My part was nearly as poor," said Martin, my person nearly as much despised, the day that I saved my mistress and her child from perishing in the wilderness." "Right, Martin," answered Halbert, “there, indeed, thou didst what might be a sufficient apology for a whole life of insignificance." "And do you account it for nothing, Halbert, that I should have the power of giving you a lesson of patience and submission to the destinies of Providence? Methinks there is use for the grey hairs on the old scalp, were it but to instruct the green head by precept and by example." Halbert held down his face, and remained silent for a minute or two, and then resumed his discourse: "Martin, see'st thou aught changed in me of late?" "Surely," said Martin, "I have always known you hasty, wild, and inconsiderate, rude, and prompt to speak at the volley and without reflection; but now, methinks, your hearing, without losing its natural fire, has something in it of force. and dignity which it had not before. It seems as you had fallen asleep a carle, and awakened a gentleman." if "Thou canst judge, then, of noble bearing?" said Halbert, "Surely," answered Martin, "in some sort I can; for I have travelled through court, and camp, and city, with my master Walter Avenel, although he could do nothing for me but give me room for two score of sheep on the hill—and surely even now while I speak with you, I feel sensible that my language is more refined than it is my wont to use, and that-though I know not the reason-the rude northern dialect, so familiar to my tongue, has given place to a more town-bred speech." "And this change in thyself and me, thou can'st by no means account for?" "Change!" replied Martin, "by Our Lady, it is not so much a change which I feel, as a recalling and renewing sentiments and expressions which I had some thirty years sine, ere Tibb and I set up our humble household. It is singular that your society should have this sort of influence over me, Halbert, and that I should never have experienced it ere now." "Think'st thou," said Halbert, "thou seest in me aught that can raise me from this base, low, despised state, into one where I may rank with those proud men, who now despise my clownish poverty?" Martin paused an instant, and then answered, "Doubtless you may, Halbert; as broken a ship has come to land. Heard ye never of Hughie Dun, who left this Halidome some thirty-five years gone by? A deliverly fellow was Hughie could read |