neck. O my dear Mary, said he, my heart has been ill at ease since I left you, hut I durst not then tell you a word of my mind, for I little knew how I was to find affairs in the place where I was going, but ah, you little elusive rogue, you owe me another for the one you cheated me out of then; so saying, he pressed his lips again to her cheek, and then lead her to a seat. Duncan then recounted his adventures to us, with every circumstance of his good fortune—our hearts were uplifted almost past bearing—all our cares and sorrows were now forgotten, and we were once more the happiest little group that ever perhaps sat together. Before the cloth was laid for dinner, Mary ran out to put on her white gown and comb her yellow hair, but was surprised at meeting with a smart young gentleman in the kitchen, with a scarlet neck on his coat, and a gold laced hat. Mary having never seen so fine a gentleman, made him a low courtesy and offered to conduct him to the room: but he smiled, and told her he was the squire’s servant we had all of us forgot to ask for the gentleman that came with Duncan.
Duncan and Mary walked for two hours in the garden that evening; we did not know what passed between them, but the next day he asked her in marriage of my parents, and never will I forget the supreme happiness and gratitude that beamed in every face on that happy occasion. I need not tell my readers that my father’s affairs were soon retrieved, or that I accompanied my dear Mary bride to the Highlands, and had the satisfaction of saluting her as Mrs. Campbell, and lady of Glenellich.
finis
