among strangers, began to sink under a pride so mortally wounded, and she grew every day mair crabbit and ill-tempered, as she harpit oure the thocht o' their afflictions affording a cause of crowing to her neglectful ⟨reflections.⟩ The warst of a’, however, was, that there were neither o’ them sae young as they once were; the snaws of auld age had begun to gather round their brows; and they hadna the warm hopes of youth, to see bright days amidst years to come. Jeanie, puir thing, bore up wonderfully, and tho’ doing every thing for the best, she took hard words, and crabbit looks, without a murmur; exerted hersell frae morning till night in managing the howshold concerns; and lookit like a stray sunbeam let into a dwelling of darkness.
Ane might naturally ask,—had she nae consolation which helpit her to oppose this brave speerit to the storm? had she nae secret help? nae kind letter? nae blithe tidings? Nane—nane; frae the night of the pairting she had heard not a syllable from or about him. She kent from his own lips that he was aff’ to the West Indies, and she heard from ithers that the West Indies is the European’s grave!
Auld Robin, the laird, saw the desolation of his neighbour’s dwelling, and he laid his schemes accordingly. He blue and braggit of his siller;—tell’t Wattie that he understood a’ his difficulties;—that he had nae objections to lend him a helping hand:—and that to crown all, he wad make Jeanie his wife, and the leddy of Stanedykes.
Walter's countenance brightened up. It was like torchlight suddenly let in on folk that have a lang time been sitting in darkness. But an hour afore he had thocht his case desperate, and now!——yet he could scarcely credit his
