It will readily be believed that Captain Keith received no telegram.

Nevertheless, as soon as his time was his own the next morning, he rode

to Avonmouth and sought out the Colonel, not perhaps with very defined

hopes of making any change in his sister's intentions, but feeling that

some attempt on his own part must be made, if only to free himself

from acquiescence, and thinking that Colin, as late guardian to the one

party, and brother to the other, was the most proper medium.

Colonel Keith was taken by surprise at the manner in which his cordial

greeting was met. He himself had been far from displeased at his

brother's communication; it was a great relief to him personally,

as well as on Lady Temple's account, and he had been much charmed at

Bessie's good sense and engaging graces. As to disparity of years, Lord

Keith had really made himself much younger of late, and there was much

to excite a girl's romance in the courtesy of an elderly man, the chief

of her clan; moreover, the perfect affection and happiness Colin had

been used to witness in his general's family disposed him to make light

of that objection; and he perceived that his brother was sufficiently

bewitched to be likely to be kind and indulgent to his bride.

He had not expected Alexander Keith to be as well pleased as he was

himself, but he was not prepared for his strong disapprobation, and

earnest desire to find some means of prevention, and he began to

reassure him upon the placability of Mrs. Comyn Menteith, the daughter,

as well as upon his brother's kindness to the objects of his real

affection.

"Oh, I am not afraid of that. She will manage him fast enough."

"Very likely, and for his good. Nor need you question his being a safe

guide for her in higher matters. Perhaps you are prejudiced against him

because his relations with me have not been happy, but candidly, in them

you know the worst of him; and no doubt he thought himself purely acting

for my welfare. I know much more of him now that I have been at home

with him, and I was greatly struck with his real consideration for the

good of all concerned with him."

"No, I am not thinking of Lord Keith. To speak it out, I cannot believe

that my sister has heart enough in this to justify her."

"Young girls often are more attracted by elderly men than by lads."

"You do not know Bessie as, I am sorry to say, I do," said Alick,

speaking slowly and sadly, and with a flush of shame on his cheek. "I do

not say that she says anything untrue, but the truth is not in her.

She is one of those selfish people who are infinitely better liked

than those five hundred times their worth, because they take care to be

always pleased."




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