I think I can show you one or two that are worth
looking at, and you can dance with them later on at the Assembly.'
He proceeded to give me a sketch of one or two eligible young
ladies' whom I might expect to meet. 'And then there's my
parteecular friend, Miss Flora,' said he. 'But I'll make no
attempt of a description. You shall see her for yourself.'
It will be readily supposed that I accepted his invitation; and
returned home to make a toilette worthy of her I was to meet and
the good news of which I was the bearer. The toilette, I have
reason to believe, was a success. Mr. Rowley dismissed me with a
farewell: 'Crikey! Mr. Anne, but you do look prime!' Even the
stony Bethiah was--how shall I say?--dazzled, but scandalised, by
my appearance; and while, of course, she deplored the vanity that
led to it, she could not wholly prevent herself from admiring the
result.
'Ay, Mr. Ducie, this is a poor employment for a wayfaring Christian
man!' she said. 'Wi' Christ despised and rejectit in all pairts of
the world and the flag of the Covenant flung doon, you will be
muckle better on your knees! However, I'll have to confess that it
sets you weel. And if it's the lassie ye're gaun to see the nicht,
I suppose I'll just have to excuse ye! Bairns maun be bairns!' she
said, with a sigh.
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