"Take it," said Mr Cameron, pleasantly. "Now for the question. On
what good qualities do we plume ourselves? Well, I think, on
steadiness, independence, loyalty, truthfulness, firmness, honesty, and
love of fair play. How far we are justified in doing so, perhaps other
nations are the better judges. They, I believe, generally regard us as
a proud and surly race--qualities on which there is no occasion to plume
ourselves."
"Much loyalty we have got to glory in!" said Angus.
"We have always tried," replied Mr Cameron, "to run loyalty and liberty
together; and when the two pull smoothly, undoubtedly the national
chaise gets along the best. Unhappily, when harnessed to the same
chariot, one of those steeds is very apt to kick over the traces. But
we will not venture on such delicate ground, seeing that our political
colours differ; nor is this the time to do it, for here is the inn where
we are to dine."
When we drove up to the manse on Wednesday, the floor stood open, and in
the doorway was Helen Raeburn, who had evidently seen our chaise, and
was waiting for us. Flora was out the first, and she and Helen flew
into one another's arms, and hugged and kissed each other as if they
could never leave off. I was surprised to find Helen so old. I thought
Elspie's niece would have been between thirty and forty; and she looks
more like sixty. Then Flora flew into the house to find her father, and
Helen turned to me.
"You're vara welcome, young leddy," said she, "and the Lord make ye a
blessin' amang us. Will ye come ben the now? Miss Flora, she's aff to
find the minister, bless her bonnie face!--but if ye'll please to come
awa' wi' me, I'll show ye the way.--Maister Angus, my laddie, welcome
hame!--are ye grown too grand to kiss your auld nursie, my callant?"
Angus gave her a kiss, but not at all like Flora; rather as if he had it
to do, and wanted to get it over.
"Well, Helen!" said Mr Cameron, as he came down from the chaise, "and
how goes the world with you, my woman?"
"I wish ye a gude evening, Mr Alexander," said she. "The warld gaes
vara weel wi' me, thanks to ye for speirin'. No that the warld's onie
better, but the Lord turns all to gude for His ain. The minister's in
his study, and he'll be blithe to see ye. Now, my lassie--I ask your
pardon, but ye see I'm used to Miss Flora."
"Please call me just what you like," I said, and I followed Helen up a
little passage paved with stone, and into a room on the right hand,
where I found Flora standing by a tall fine-looking man, who had his arm
round her shoulders, and who was so like her that he could only be her
father. Flora's face was lighted up as I had seen it but once before--
so bright and happy she looked!
"And here is our young guest, your cousin," said my Uncle Drummond,
turning to me with a very kind smile. "My dear, may your stay be
profitable and pleasant among us,--ay, and mayest thou find favour in
the eyes of the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to
trust!"
It sounded very strange to me. Did these people pray about everything?
I had heard Father speak contemptuously of "praying Presbyters," and I
thought Uncle Drummond must be one of that sort. But I could not see
that a minister looked at all different from a clergyman. They seemed
to me very much the same sort of creature.
Mr Cameron was to stay the night at the manse, and to go on in the
morning to his own home, which is about fourteen miles further. Flora
carried me off to her chamber, where she and I were to sleep, and we
changed our travelling dresses, and had a good wash, and then came down
to supper. During the evening Mr Cameron said, laughingly,--
"Well, my fair maid who objects to the South, have you digested the
Iberii?"
"I think I have remembered all you told us, Sir," said I; "but if you
please, I am very sorry, but I am afraid we do come from the South. Our
family, I mean. My father's father, I believe, belonged Wiltshire; and
his father, who was a captain in the navy, was a Courtenay of Powderham,
whatever that means. My sister Fanny knows all about it, but I don't
understand it--only I am afraid we must have come from the South."
Mr Cameron laughed, and so did my Uncle Drummond and Flora.
"Don't you, indeed, young lady?" said the first. "Well, it only means
that you have half the kings of England and France, and a number of
emperors of the East, among your forefathers. Very blue blood indeed,
Miss Caroline. I do not see how, with that pedigree, you could be
anything but a Tory. Mr Courtenay is rather warm that way, I
understand."
"Oh, Father is as strong as he can be," said I. "I should not dare to
talk of the Elector of Hanover by any other name if he heard me."
"Well, you may call that gentleman what you please here," said Mr
Cameron; "but I usually style him King George."
"Nay, Sandy, do not teach the child to disobey her father," said my
Uncle Drummond. "The Fifth Command is somewhat older than the Brunswick
succession and the Act of Settlement."
"A little," said Mr Cameron, drily.
"Little Cary," said my uncle, softly, turning to me, "do you know that
you are very like somebody?"
"Like whom, Uncle?" said I.
"Somebody I loved very much, my child," he answered, rather sadly; "from
whom Angus has his blue eyes, and Flora her smile."
"You mean Aunt Jane," said I, speaking as softly as he had done, for I
felt that she had been very dear to him.
"Yes, my dear," he replied; "I mean my Jeannie. You are very like her.
I think we shall love each other, Cary."