Fiction > Book editions > London, 1889 - Master of Ballantrae

12 THE MASTER OP BALLANTKAB.
intentness tliat became the old gentleman very well. If
she wept, he would condole with her like an ancient
man that has seen worse times and begins to think
lightly even of sorrow ; if she raged, he Avould fall to
reading again in his Latin book, but always with some
civil excuse ; i£ she offered, as she often did, to let them
have her money in a gift, he would show her how little
it consisted with his honour, and remind her, even if he
should consent, that Mr. Henry would certainly refuse.
JVon vi seel scepe cadendo was a favourite word of his ;
and no doubt this quiet persecution wore away much of
her resolve ; no doubt, besides, he had a great influence
on the girl, having stood in the place of both her parents;
and, for that matter, she was herself filled with the
spirit of the Duries, and would have gone a great way
for the glory of Durrisdeer; but not so far, I think, as
to marry my poor patron, had it not been — strangely
enough — for the circumstance of his extreme unpopu-
larity.
This was the work of Tarn Macmorland. There was
not much harm in Tam; but he had that grievous
weakness, a long tongue ; and as the only man in that
eountiy who had been out — or, rather, who had come in
again — he was sure of listeners. Those that have the
underhand in any fighting, I have observed, are ever
anxious to persuade themselves they were betrayed. By
Tarn's account of it, the rebels had been betrayed at
every turn and by every officer they had; they had been