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agree to be done with all eccentricity … take up with no more
drovers； or tinkers； but enjoy the naitural pleesures for which
your age； your wealth； your intelligence； and （if I may be allowed
to say it） your appearance so completely fit you。 And the first of
these；' quoth he； looking at his watch； 'will be to step through to
my dining…room and share a bachelor's luncheon。'
Over the meal； which was good； Mr。 Robbie continued to develop the
same theme。 'You're； no doubt； what they call a dancing…man？' said
he。 'Well； on Thursday night there is the Assembly Ball。 You must
certainly go there； and you must permit me besides to do the
honours of the ceety and send you a ticket。 I am a thorough
believer in a young man being a young man … but no more drovers or
rovers； if you love me！ Talking of which puts me in mind that you
may be short of partners at the Assembly … oh； I have been young
myself！ … and if ye care to come to anything so portentiously
tedious as a tea…party at the house of a bachelor lawyer；
consisting mainly of his nieces and nephews； and his grand…nieces
and grand…nephews； and his wards； and generally the whole clan of
the descendants of his clients； you might drop in to…night towards
seven o'clock。 I think I can show you one or two that are worth
looking at； and you can dance with them later on at the Assembly。'
He proceeded to give me a sketch of one or two eligible young
ladies' whom I might expect to meet。 'And then there's my
parteecular friend； Miss Flora；' said he。 'But I'll make no
attempt of a description。 You shall see her for yourself。'
It will be readily supposed that I accepted his invitation； and
returned home to make a toilette worthy of her I was to meet and
the good news of which I was the bearer。 The toilette； I have
reason to believe； was a success。 Mr。 Rowley dismissed me with a
farewell： 'Crikey！ Mr。 Anne； but you do look prime！' Even the
stony Bethiah was … how shall I say？ … dazzled； but scandalised； by
my appearance； and while； of course； she deplored the vanity that
led to it； she could not wholly prevent herself from admiring the
result。
'Ay； Mr。 Ducie； this is a poor employment for a wayfaring Christian
man！' she said。 'Wi' Christ despised and rejectit in all pairts of
the world and the flag of the Covenant flung doon； you will be
muckle better on your knees！ However； I'll have to confess that it
sets you weel。 And if it's the lassie ye're gaun to see the nicht；
I suppose I'll just have to excuse ye！ Bairns maun be bairns！' she
said； with a sigh。 'I mind when Mr。 McRankine came courtin'； and
that's lang by…gane … I mind I had a green gown； passementit； that
was thocht to become me to admiration。 I was nae just exactly what
ye would ca' bonny； but I was pale； penetratin'； and interestin'。'
And she leaned over the stair…rail with a candle to watch my
descent as long as it should be possible。
It was but a little party at Mr。 Robbie's … by which； I do not so
much mean that there were few people； for the rooms were crowded；
as that there was very little attempted to entertain them。 In one
apartment there were tables set out； where the elders were solemnly
engaged upon whist； in the other and larger one； a great number of
youth of both sexes entertained themselves languidly； the ladies
sitting upon chairs to be courted； the gentlemen standing about in
various attitudes of insinuation or indifference。 Conversation
appeared the sole resource； except in so far as it was modified by
a number of keepsakes and annuals which lay dispersed upon the
tables； and of which the young beaux displayed the illustrations to
the ladies。 Mr。 Robbie himself was customarily in the card…room；
only now and again； when he cut out； he made an incursion among the
young folks； and rolled about jovially from one to another； the
very picture of the general uncle。
It chanced that Flora had met Mr。 Robbie in the course of the
afternoon。 'Now； Miss Flora；' he had said； 'come early； for I have
a Phoenix to show you … one Mr。 Ducie； a new client of mine that； I
vow； I have fallen in love with'； and he was so good as to add a
word or two on my appearance； from which Flora conceived a
suspicion of the truth。 She had come to the party； in consequence；
on the knife…edge of anticipation and alarm； had chosen a place by
the door； where I found her； on my arrival； surrounded by a posse
of vapid youths； and； when I drew near； sprang up to meet me in the
most natural manner in the world； and； obviously； with a prepared
form of words。
'How do you do； Mr。 Ducie？' she said。 'It is quite an age since I
have seen you！'
'I have much to tell you； Miss Gilchrist；' I replied。 'May I sit
down？'
For the artful girl； by sitting near the door； and the judicious
use of her shawl； had contrived to keep a chair empty by her side。
She made room for me； as a matter of course； and the youths had the
discretion to melt before us。 As soon as I was once seated her fan
flew out； and she whispered behind it：
'Are you mad？'
'Madly in love；' I replied； 'but in no other sense。'
'I have no patience！ You cannot understand what I am suffering！'
she said。 'What are you to say to Ronald； to Major Chevenix； to my
aunt？'
Your aunt？' I cried； with a start。 'PECCAVI！ is she here？'
'She is in the card…room at whist；' said Flora。
'Where she will probably stay all the evening？' I suggested。
'She may；' she admitted； 'she generally does！'
'Well； then； I must avoid the card…room；' said I； 'which is very
much what I had counted upon doing。 I did not come here to play
cards； but to contemplate a certain young lady to my heart's
content … if it can ever be contented！ … and to tell her some good
news。'
'But there are still Ronald and the Major！' she persisted。 'They
are not card…room fixtures！ Ronald will be coming and going。 And
as for Mr。 Chevenix； he … '
'Always sits with Miss Flora？' I interrupted。 'And they talk of
poor St。 Ives？ I had gathered as much； my dear； and Mr。 Ducie has
come to prevent it！ But pray dismiss these fears！ I mind no one
but your aunt。'
'Why my aunt？'
'Because your aunt is a lady； my dear； and a very clever lady； and；
like all clever ladies； a very rash lady；' said I。 'You can never
count upon them； unless you are sure of getting them in a corner；
as I have got you； and talking them over rationally； as I am just
engaged on with yourself！ It would be quite the same to your aunt
to make the worst kind of a scandal； with an equal indifference to
my danger and to the feelings of our good host！'
'Well；' she said； 'and what of Ronald； then？ Do you think HE is
above making a scandal？ You must know him very little！'
'On the other hand； it is my pretension that I know him very well！'
I replied。 'I must speak