 that when Mac-Murrough composed a song, in which he
enumerated all the principal beauties of the district, and intimated her
superiority by concluding, that »the fairest apple hung on the highest bough,«
he received, in donatives from the individuals of the clan, more seed-barley
than would have sowed his Highland Parnassus, the Bard's croft, as it was
called, ten times over.
    From situation, as well as choice, Miss Mac-Ivor's society was extremely
limited. Her most intimate friend had been Rose Bradwardine, to whom she was
much attached; and when seen together, they would have afforded an artist two
admirable subjects for the gay and the melancholy muse. Indeed Rose was so
tenderly watched by her father, and her circle of wishes was so limited, that
none arose but what he was willing to gratify, and scarce any which did not come
within the compass of his power. With Flora it was otherwise. While almost a
girl, she had undergone the most complete change of scene, from gaiety and
splendour to absolute solitude and comparative poverty; and the ideas and wishes
which she chiefly fostered, respected great national events, and changes not to
be brought round without both hazard and bloodshed, and therefore not to be
thought of with levity. Her manner, consequently, was grave, though she readily
contributed her talents to the amusement of society, and stood very high in the
opinion of the old Baron, who used to sing along with her such French duets of
Lindor and Cloris, etc., as were in fashion about the end of the reign of old
Louis le Grand.
    It was generally believed, though no one durst have hinted it to the Baron
of Bradwardine, that Flora's entreaties had no small share in allaying the wrath
of Fergus upon occasion of their quarrel. She took her brother on the assailable
side, by dwelling first upon the Baron's age, and then representing the injury
which the cause might sustain, and the damage which must arise to his own
character in point of prudence, so necessary to a political agent, if he
persisted in carrying it to extremity. Otherwise it is probable it would have
terminated in a duel, both because the Baron had, on a former occasion, shed
blood of the clan, though the matter had been timely accommodated, and on
account of his high reputation for address at his weapon, which Fergus almost
condescended to envy. For the same reason she had urged their reconciliation,
which the Chieftain the more readily agreed to, as it favoured some ulterior
projects of his
