Mr. Pleydell listened with great attention, and then replied, "Icongratulated myself upon having made the acquaintance of a profound theologian in your chaplain; but I really did not expect to find a pupil of Albumazar or Messabala in his patron. I have a notion, however, this gipsy could tell us some more of the matter than she derives from astrology or second-sight--I had her through hands once, and could then make little of her, but I must write to Mac-Morlan to stir heaven and earth to find her out. I will gladly come to--shire myself to assist at her examination--I am still in the commission of the peace there, though I have ceased to be Sheriff--I never had anything more at heart in my life than tracing that murder, and the fate of the child. I must write to the Sheriff of Roxburghshire too, and to an active justice of peace in Cumberland.""I hope when you come to the country you will make Woodbourne your headquarters?""Certainly; I was afraid you were going to forbid me--but we must go to breakfast now, or I shall be too late."On the following day the new friends parted, And the Colonel rejoined his family without any adventure worthy of being detailed in these chapters.
CHAPTER XL.
Can no rest find me, no private place secure me, But still my miseries like bloodhounds haunt me? Unfortunate young man, which way now guides thee, Guides thee from death? The country's laid around for thee.
Women Pleased.
Our narrative now recalls us for a moment to the period when young Hazlewood received his wound. That accident had no sooner happened, than the consequences to Miss Mannering and to himself rushed upon Brown's mind. From the manner in which the muzzle of the piece was pointed when it went off, he had no great fear that the consequences would be fatal. But an arrest in a strange country, and while he was unprovided with any means of establishing his rank and character, was at least to be avoided. He therefore resolved to escape for the present to the neighbouring coast of England, and to remain concealed there, if possible, until he should receive letters from his regimental, friends, and remittances from his agent; and then to resume his own character, and offer to young Hazlewood and his friends any explanation or satisfaction they might desire. With this purpose he walked stoutly forward, after leaving the spot where the accident had happened, and reached without adventure the village which we have called Portanferry (but which the reader will in vain seek for under that name in the county map). A large open boat was just about to leave the quay, bound for the little seaport of Allonby, in Cumberland.
In this vessel Brown embarked, and resolved to make that place his temporary abode, until he should receive letters and money from England.
In the course of their short voyage he entered into some conversation with the steersman, who was also owner of the boat, a jolly old man, who had occasionally been engaged in the smuggling trade, like most fishers on the coast. After talking about objects of less interest, Brown endeavoured to turn the discourse toward the Mannering family. The sailor had heard of the attack upon the house at Woodbourne, but disapproved of the smugglers' proceedings.
"Hands off is fair play; zounds, they'll bring the whole country down upon them--na, na! when I was in that way I played at giff-gaff [*Give and take] with the officers--here a cargo taen--vera weel, that was their luck;--there another carried clean through, that was mine,--na, na! hawks shouldna pike out hawks' een.""And this Colonel Mannering?" said Brown.
"Troth, he's nae wise man neither, to interfere--no that I blame him for saving the gaugers' lives--that was very right; but it wasna like a gentleman to be fighting about the poor folk's pocks o' tea and brandy kegs--however, he's a grand man and an officer man, and they do what they like wi' the like o' us.""And his daughter," said Brown, with a throbbing heart, "is going to be married into a great family too, as I have heard?""What, into the Hazlewoods'?" said the pilot. "Na, na, that's but idle clashes-every Sabbath day, as regularly as it came round, did the young man ride hame wi' the daughter of the late Ellangowan--and my daughter Peggy's in the service up at Woodbourne, and she says she's sure young Hazlewood thinks nae mair of Miss Mannering than you do."Bitterly censuring his own precipitate adoption of a contrary belief, Brown yet heard with delight that the suspicions of Julia's fidelity, upon which he had so rashly acted, were probably void of foundation. How must he in the meantime be suffering in her opinion? or what could she suppose of conduct, which must have made him appear to her regardless alike of her peace of mind, and of the interests of their affection? The old man's connection with the family at Woodbourne seemed to offer a safe mode of communication, of which he determined to avail himself.