Laurie's.




CHAP. VIII.


Captain Elliott, mean time, had arrived at the Manse. He was a fine
good-looking young man, excessively attached to his sister and her family;
and having been absent so long from his native country, had so much to
hear and see, that he completely occupied every moment of their time.
Helen was only a baby in arms when he left the country, but William was
between three and four years old. After talking to them all some time, he
turned to Mrs. Martin and said, "but where is young Pickle, that I do not
see him? My mother wrote me something about his being a violent-tempered
boy; but I suppose it is nothing else but that, having a little more
spirit than his father, you think him a dragon. There never was in the
world, I believe, so even-tempered a man as my good brother-in-law, and
Helen looks as if she were his own child." While he was speaking, Mrs.
Martin became quite grave, and her brother fancied she changed colour. Her
husband, however, looked pleased at this remembrance of William; and
taking her hand, said, "Come, come, my dear, you must not, by looking so
serious, make your brother fancy William worse than he really is. The
truth is, he has given us a great deal of uneasiness by the violence of
his temper; but Mr. Lamont, with whom he is, at Kelso, writes me word that
he has good hopes of getting the better of the boy's little failings in
time. He is a most excellent scholar, always at the head of his class,
which is a large one; and, in short, I trust he will do very well by and
bye." "God grant you may not be deceived in your hopes, my dear husband,"