contempt towards the old inadvertent sinner, capering away in the
height of his unregenerated mirth. The minister perceived the
workings of her pious mind, and thenceforward addressed her by
the courteous title of Lady Dalcastle, which sounded somewhat
better, as not coupling her name with one of the wicked: and
there is too great reason to believe that, for all the solemn vows
she had come under, and these were of no ordinary binding,
particularly on the laird's part, she at that time despised, if not
abhorred him, in her heart.

The good parson again blessed her, and went away. She took
leave of him with tears in her eyes, entreating him often to visit
her in that heathen land of the Amorite, the Hittite, and the
Girgashite: to which he assented, on many solemn and qualifying
conditions--and then the comely bride retired to her chamber to
pray.

It was customary, in those days, for the bride's-man and maiden,
and a few select friends, to visit the new-married couple after
they had retired to rest, and drink a cup to their healths, their
happiness, and a numerous posterity. But the laird delighted not
in this: he wished to have his jewel to himself; and, slipping away
quietly from his jovial party, he retired to his chamber to his
beloved, and bolted the door. He found her engaged with the
writings of the Evangelists, and terribly demure. The laird went
up to caress her; but she turned away her head, and spoke of the
follies of aged men, and something of the broad way that leadeth
to destruction. The laird did not thoroughly comprehend this
allusion; but being considerably flustered by drinking, and
disposed to take all in good part, he only remarked, as he took off