A mental struggle, p. 13

A Mental Struggle, 5

crossed the patches of moonlight on the floor to where

Janet lay listening intently. They were occupying the

same room for the night, the old rambling Scottish mansion

being full of guests to overflowing. If there was no money

at Tullygoram, there were at all events plenty of guests,

morning, noon, and night. She crept into Lady Janet's

bed and clasped her arms round her. Ah, what did Janet

think ?

Whereupon Lady Janet (who really was a most delightful

girl, and fully deserved the man she got afterwards) de-

clai'ed there was not a doubt in the world but that Hugh

Heriot adored her dear Olivia, and only wanted one little

word from her to make him propose in due form. She—•

Lady Janet—had long seen how hopelessly in love the

noor dear fellow was, and she now saw that soon her

darling Olivia would be carried miles and miles away from

her to that horrid England. This miserable ending to her

prognostications only seemed to I'aise the spirits of the

ungrateful Olivia to an abnormal height. She went to

sleep immediately, and dreamed all sorts of rose-coloured

dreams.

She acted on her sister's advice, however, next day, and,

having given Sir Hugh the little needful word, was informed

by him upon the spot that she was the " light of his eyes,"

and his " heart's darling," and so forth. He also informed

her that should her father. Lord Tulloch, refuse his con¬

sent to their union, he should feel it not only a duty but

a pleasure to put a period to his existence.

Most mercifully it so happened that nothing so awful as

this contingeixy arose. Lord Tulloch, even after his last

toddy for the night, m_ight safely be dubbed a shrewd old

nobleman, with whom a shilling always meant twelve

pence, if not a little more; and he secretly considered a

baronet with £4,000 a year as an article " by no means

to be sneezed at." He therefore gave his consent to the

enamoured lover's prayer, after a decent show of hesitation.

He was very good about hurrying on the wedding. He

squeezed Hugh's hand vinously as the carriage started

with the bride and bridegroom, and breathed after them