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

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THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE.
Tlie streets were full of the riff-raff of all the country-
side, who had no sooner clapped eyes on ]Mr. Henry
than the hissing began, and the hooting, and the cries
of " Judas ! " and " Where was the Master ? " and
" Where were the poor lads that rode with him ? "
Even a stone was east ; but the more part cried shame at
that, for my old lord^s sake, and Miss Alison^s. It took
not ten minutes to persuade my lord that Mr. Henry
had been right. He said never a word, but turned his
horse about, and home again, with his chin upon his
bosom. Never a word said Miss Alison ; no doubt she
thought the more ; no doubt her pride was stung^ for
she was a bone-bred Durie; and no doubt her heart
was touched to see her cousin so unjustly used. That
night she was never in bed ; I have often blamed my
lady — when I call to mind that night, I readily forgive
her all ; and the first thing in the morning she came
to the old lord in his usual seat.
" If Henry still wants me,'^ said she, " he can have
me now.'" To himself she had a different speech : " I
bring you no love, Henry ; but God knows, all the pity
in the world. '^
June the 1st, 1748, was the day of their marriage.
It was December of the same year that first saw me
alighting at the doors of the great house ; and from
there I take up the history of events as they befell under
my own observation, like a witness in a court.