parlance, taken the shine out of our proud English aristocratic sportsmen. I have just seen a letter sent by the Honorable Captain Somerville to a friend of his here, and must give the writer credit for the impartial and candid manner in which he has acknowledged the defeat. In short, I was surprised at the eulogy with which he characterised Charlie's excellence in all gentlemanly sports and personal attractions; nor does it seem, according to the gallant writer's account, that my little sister has made less progress towards feminine charms, as she is set down as the heroine or belle of the occasion; and, moreover, that she was the cause of such rivalry and competition. You little rogue; who would imagine that my shy and quiet sister would create such sensation among noblemen who are used to the attractions and brilliancy of an English court.
"What makes me more proud of Charlie's triumphs is, to show these English that our countrymen are not the ignorant set they imagine, for you could not believe how they tease me about our national deficiences; but now I can prove to them that one of our Highland striplings discomfited their noblest and most accomplished sportsmen. With kind love to father, Mr. Stuart, and, above all, to our hero.—Your affectionate Brother, George."
The happy and pleasant thoughts which the foregoing statements convoyed to Bella's mind were soon clouded on the return of her father from the castle, with a mixture of authority and sternness in his words and manner towards her he had never before shown. He told her it was his intention to leave next morning for London, with Lord Lundy and his retinue, and directed her to prepare herself, as she was to accompany them. Her heart sank within her on hearing this unexpected and unpleasant intelligence. Her pleasant dreams were at once scattered, and the hope of enjoying more happy hours in Charlie Stuart's company gave place to a dread and horror of being subjected to the annoyance and persecutions of Lord Lundy's addresses, as she had no doubt that he had deceived her father by some gross misrepresentations in his own favor.
Her first resolve was to inform Charlie Stuart of this sudden alteration in, and determination of her father; but even this hope and comfort was denied her, by her maid, Mary, informing her that Mr. McKay had given strict orders to all the servants that none of them were to leave the premises on any consideration whatever.
This mode of communication having been stopped, she turned her attention to another expedient, which
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