The result of this interview and deliberation was favourable to Menteith.Sir Duncan Campbell became fully sensible that the happiness of his new-found daughter depended upon a union with her lover;and unless such were now formed,he saw that Argyle would throw a thousand obstacles in the way of a match in every respect acceptable to himself.Menteith's private character was so excellent,and such was the rank and consideration due to his fortune and family,that they outbalanced,in Sir Duncan's opinion,the difference in their political opinions.Nor could he have resolved,perhaps,had his own opinion of the match been less favourable,to decline an opportunity of indulging the new- found child of his hopes.There was,besides,a feeling of pride which dictated his determination.To produce the Heiress of Ardenvohr to the world as one who had been educated a poor dependant and musician in the family of Darnlinvarach,had something in it that was humiliating.To introduce her as the betrothed bride,or wedded wife,of the Earl of Menteith,upon an attachment formed during her obscurity,was a warrant to the world that she had at all times been worthy of the rank to which she was elevated.
It was under the influence of these considerations that Sir Duncan Campbell announced to the lovers his consent that they should be married in the chapel of the Castle,by Montrose's chaplain,and as privately as possible.But when Montrose should break up from Inverlochy,for which orders were expected in the course of a very few days,it was agreed that the young Countess should depart with her father to his Castle,and remain there until the circumstances of the nation permitted Menteith to retire with honour from his present military employment.His resolution being once taken,Sir Duncan Campbell would not permit the maidenly scruples of his daughter to delay its execution;and it was therefore resolved that the bridal should take place the next evening,being the second after the battle.
CHAPTER XXIII.
My maid--my blue-eyed maid,he bore away,Due to the toils of many a bloody day.ILLIAD.
It was necessary,for many reasons,that Angus M'Aulay,so long the kind protector of Annot Lyle,should be made acquainted with the change in the fortunes of his late protege;and Montrose,as he had undertaken,communicated to him these remarkable events.
With the careless and cheerful indifference of his character,he expressed much more joy than wonder at Annot's good fortune;had no doubt whatever she would merit it,and as she had always been bred in loyal principles,would convey the whole estate of her grim fanatical father to some honest fellow who loved the king.
"I should have no objection that my brother Allan should try his chance,"added he,"notwithstanding that Sir Duncan Campbell was the only man who ever charged Darnlinvarach with inhospitality.
Annot Lyle could always charm Allan out of the sullens,and who knows whether matrimony might not make him more a man of this world?"Montrose hastened to interrupt the progress of his castle-building,by informing him that the lady was already wooed and won,and,with her father's approbation,was almost immediately to be wedded to his kinsman,the Earl of Menteith;
and that in testimony of the high respect due to M'Aulay,so long the lady's protector,he was now to request his presence at the ceremony.M'Aulay looked very grave at this intimation,and drew up his person with the air of one who thought that he had been neglected.
"He contrived,"he said,"that his uniform kind treatment of the young lady,while so many years under his roof,required something more upon such an occasion than a bare compliment of ceremony.He might,"he thought,"without arrogance,have expected to have been consulted.He wished his kinsman of Menteith well,no man could wish him better;but he must say he thought he had been hasty in this matter.Allan's sentiments towards the young lady had been pretty well understood,and he,for one,could not see why the superior pretensions which he had upon her gratitude should have been set aside,without at least undergoing some previous discussion."
Montrose,seeing too well where all this pointed,entreated M'Aulay to be reasonable,and to consider what probability there was that the Knight of Ardenvohr could be brought to confer the hand of his sole heiress upon Allan,whose undeniable excellent qualities were mingled with others,by which they were overclouded in a manner that made all tremble who approached him.
"My lord,"said Angus M'Aulay,"my brother Allan has,as God made us all,faults as well as merits;but he is the best and bravest man of your army,be the other who he may,and therefore ill deserved that his happiness should have been so little consulted by your Excellency--by his own near kinsman--and by a young person who owes all to him and to his family."
Montrose in vain endeavoured to place the subject in a different view;this was the point in which Angus was determined to regard it,and he was a man of that calibre of understanding,who is incapable of being convinced when he has once adopted a prejudice.Montrose now assumed a higher tone,and called upon Angus to take care how he nourished any sentiments which might be prejudicial to his Majesty's service.He pointed out to him,that he was peculiarly desirous that Allan's efforts should not be interrupted in the course of his present mission;"a mission,"
he said,"highly honourable for himself,and likely to prove most advantageous to the King's cause.He expected his brother would hold no communication with him upon other subjects,nor stir up any cause of dissension,which might divert his mind from a matter of such importance."
