 Edith with firmness; »you have seen my weakness, and you
shall see my strength.«
    »But ye leaned on me the other morning, Miss Edith, when ye were sae sair
grieved.«
    »Misplaced and erring affection may require support, Jenny - duty can
support itself. Yet I will do nothing rashly; - I will be aware of the reasons
of his conduct - and then - cast him off for ever,« was the firm and determined
answer of her young lady.
    Overawed by a manner of which she could neither conceive the motive, nor
estimate the merit, Jenny muttered between her teeth, »Od, when the first
flight's ower, Miss Edith taks it as easy as I do, and muckle easier, and I'm
sure I ne'er cared half sae muckle about Cuddie Headrigg as she did about young
Milnwood. Forby that, it's maybe as weel to hae a friend on baith sides; for if
the whigs suld come to tak the Castle, as it's like they may, when there's sae
little victual, and the dragoons wasting what's o't, - ou, in that case,
Milnwood and Cuddie wad hae the upper hand, and their friendship wad be worth
siller - I was thinking sae this morning or I heard the news.«
    With this consolatory reflection the damsel went about her usual
occupations, leaving her mistress to school her mind as she best might, for
eradicating the sentiments which she had hitherto entertained towards Henry
Morton.
 

                             Chapter Twenty-Fourth

 Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!
                                                                        Henry V.
 
On the evening of this day, all the information which they could procure led
them to expect that the insurgent army would be with early dawn on their march
against Tillietudlem. Lord Evandale's wounds had been examined by Pike, who
reported them in a very promising state. They were numerous, but none of any
consequence; and the loss of blood, as much perhaps as the boasted specific of
Lady Margaret, had prevented any tendency to fever; so that, notwithstanding he
felt some pain and great weakness, the patient maintained that he was able to
creep about with the assistance of a stick. In these circumstances he refused to
be confined to his apartment, both that he might encourage the soldiers by his
presence, and suggest any necessary addition to the plan of defence, which the
Major might be supposed to have arranged upon something of an antiquated fashion
of warfare. - Lord Evandale was well qualified to give advice on such subjects,
having served,
