family preferred disgrace to his connection. Since the
promise, besides, he had doubtless been busy "battering
himself" back again into his affection for the girl; and the
blow would not only take him in his vanity, but wound him at
the heart.

He relieved himself in verse; but for such a smarting affront
manuscript poetry was insufficient to console him. He must
find a more powerful remedy in good flesh and blood, and
after this discomfiture, set forth again at once upon his
voyage of discovery in quest of love. It is perhaps one of
the most touching things in human nature, as it is a
commonplace of psychology, that when a man has just lost hope
or confidence in one love, he is then most eager to find and
lean upon another. The universe could not be yet exhausted;
there must be hope and love waiting for him somewhere; and
so, with his head down, this poor, insulted poet ran once
more upon his fate. There was an innocent and gentle
Highland nursery-maid at service in a neighbouring family;
and he had soon battered himself and her into a warm
affection and a secret engagement. Jean's marriage lines had
not been destroyed till March 13, 1786; yet all was settled
between Burns and Mary Campbell by Sunday, May 14, when they
met for the last time, and said farewell with rustic
solemnities upon the banks of Ayr. They each wet their hands
in a stream, and, standing one on either bank, held a Bible
between them as they vowed eternal faith. Then they
exchanged Bibles, on one of which Burns, for greater
security, had inscribed texts as to the binding nature of an
oath; and surely, if ceremony can do aught to fix the