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

178 The masteIi of ballaktrae.
his character, smiling at then with a good conscience;
and when the day of the funeral came round, doing- the
honours with exact propriety. I could perceive, besides,
that he found a solid gratification in his accession to the
title; the which he was punctilioiis in exacting.
And now there came upon the scene a new character,
and one that played his part, too, in the story ; I mean
the present lord, Alexander, whose birth (17th July,
1757) filled the cup of my poor master's happiness.
There was nothing then left hirn to Avish for; nor
yet leisure to wish for it. Indeed, there never was a
parent so fond and doting as he showed himself. He
was continually uneasy in his son's absence. Was the
child abroad ? the father would be watching the clouds
in case it rained. Was it night? he would rise out of
his bed to observe its slumbers. His conversation grew
even wearyful to strangers, since he talked of little but
his son. In matters relating to the estate, all was
designed with a particular eye to Alexander; and it
would be : — " Let us put it in hand at once, that the
wood may be grown against Alexander's majority;'"
or, " This will fall in again handsomely for Alexander's
marriage." Every day this absorption of the man's
nature became more observable, with many touching
and some very blameworthy jiarticulars. Soon the child
oonld walk abroad with him, at first on the terrace, hand
in hand, and afterward at large about the policies ; and