The autumn holiday-time had come to an end; and the tourists had left
Scotland to the Scots.
In the dull season, a solitary traveler from the North arrived at the
nearest post-town to Mount Morven. A sketchbook and a color-box formed
part of his luggage, and declared him to be an artist. Falling into talk
over his dinner with the waiter at the hotel, he made inquiries about
a picturesque house in the neighborhood, which showed that Mount Morven
was well known to him by reputation. When he proposed paying a visit to
the old border fortress the next day, the waiter said: “You can’t see
the house.” When the traveler asked Why, this man of few words merely
added: “Shut up.”
The landlord made his appearance with a bottle of wine and proved to be
a more communicative person in his relations with strangers. Presented
in an abridged form, and in the English language, these (as he related
them) were the circumstances under which Mount Morven had been closed to
the public.
A complete dispersion of the family had taken place not long since. For
miles round everybody was sorry for it. Rich and poor alike felt
the same sympathy with the good lady of the house. She had been most
shamefully treated by her husband, and by a good-for-nothing girl
employed as governess. To put it plainly, the two had run away together;
one report said they had gone abroad, and another declared that
they were living in London. Mr. Linley’s conduct was perfectly
incomprehensible. He had always borne the highest character--a good
landlord, a kind father, a devoted husband. And yet, after more than
eight years of exemplary married life, he had disgraced himself. The
minister of the parish, preaching on the subject, had attributed this
extraordinary outbreak of vice on the part of an otherwise virtuous man,
to a possession of the devil. Assuming “the devil,” in this case, to be
only a discreet and clerical way of alluding from the pulpit to a woman,
the landlord was inclined to agree with the minister. After what had
happened, it was, of course, impossible that Mrs. Linley could remain
in her husband’s house. She and her little girl, and her mother, were
supposed to be living in retirement. They kept the place of their
retreat a secret from everybody but Mrs. Linley’s legal adviser, who
was instructed to forward letters. But one other member of the family
remained to be accounted for. This was Mr. Linley’s younger brother,
known at present to be traveling on the Continent. Two trustworthy old
servants had been left in charge at Mount Morven--and there was the
whole story; and that was why the house was shut up.