Life of Flora Macdonald and her adventures with Prince Charles

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chiefly by Lady Margaret, for Flora's marriage with Allan
Macdonald, Kingsburgh's son. For some years before,
when Flora and her intended were in their teens, it was well
known to their friends that an attachment existed between
them. Lady Margaret, at a friendly party in the house one
evening, jocularly conversed about this alliance, saying, in
her well-known frank and affable manner, that about-to-be
married people were always subjects for speculation, and
that on this occasion she was to speculate a little herself.
One thing, she said, was apparent, that Allan and Flora
resembled one another in tempers, characters, and ages —
and they even resembled each other in person — and that
they were no doubt intended for one onother. Flora
modestly replied, that the step her Ladyship alluded to was
the most important in a woman's life ; but that in regard to
the proposals made, while she had no objections to them,
as Mr. Allan possessed the esteem of all who knew him,
yet, for various reasons, she could not think of such an
event taking place for two or three years to come.
The fact was that Flora's judgment was of a practical
kind, and her prudence possessed a masculine strength while
tempered with feminine delicacy. She knew well that the
nature of old Kingsburgh's duties as a public functionary,
however honourable, caused him considerable embarrass-
ment, owing to his absence in Edinburgh Castle for a whole
year, and that Allan's affairs would naturally be similarly
affected. She had, therefore, a presentiment that troubles
and anxieties might henceforth fall to her lot, and that it
would be prudent to delay their intended union for some
indefinite period. Her ideas were known to be only
too well founded, and in consequence the matter was no
longer pressed. Shortly after this, Flora bade farewell
to Lady Margaret and Sir Alexander, and took passage