 into the character of David Deans, cowfeeder, and so forth,
at St. Leonard's Crags; and if he found him such as he had been represented, to
engage him without delay, and on the most liberal terms, to superintend his
fancy-farm in Dumbartonshire.
    The proposal was made to old David by the gentleman so commissioned, on the
second day after his daughter's pardon had reached Edinburgh. His resolution to
leave St. Leonard's had been already formed; the honour of an express invitation
from the Duke of Argyle to superintend a department where so much skill and
diligence was required, was in itself extremely flattering; and the more so,
because honest David, who was not without an excellent opinion of his own
talents, persuaded himself that, by accepting this charge, he would in some sort
repay the great favour he had received at the hands of the Argyle family. The
appointments, including the right of sufficient grazing for a small stock of his
own, were amply liberal; and David's keen eye saw that the situation was
convenient for trafficking to advantage in Highland cattle. There was risk of
»her'ship«65 from the neighbouring mountains, indeed, but the awful name of the
Duke of Argyle would be a great security, and a trifle of black-mail would,
David was aware, assure his safety.
    Still, however, there were two points on which he haggled. The first was the
character of the clergyman with whose worship he was to join; and on this
delicate point he received, as we will presently show the reader, perfect
satisfaction. The next obstacle was the condition of his youngest daughter,
obliged as she was to leave Scotland for so many years.
    The gentleman of the law smiled, and said, »There was no occasion to
interpret that clause very strictly - that if the young woman left Scotland for
a few months, or even weeks, and came to her father's new residence by sea from
the western side of England, nobody would know of her arrival, or at least
nobody who had either the right or inclination to give her disturbance. The
extensive heritable jurisdictions of his Grace excluded the interference of
other magistrates with those living on his estates, and they who were in
immediate dependence on him would receive orders to give the young woman no
disturbance. Living on the verge of the Highlands, she might, indeed, be said to
be out of Scotland, that is, beyond the bounds of ordinary law and
civilisation.«
    Old Deans was not quite satisfied with this reasoning;
