第24章

Oldbuck forgave the blasphemy which reviled the memory of King William.However, as she used in general to take her father's part playfully in these disputes, Oldbuck was wont to call Isabella his fair enemy, though in fact he made more account of her than any other of her sex, of whom, as we have seen, he, was no admirer.

There existed another connection betwixt these worthies, which had alternately a repelling and attractive influence upon their intimacy.Sir Arthur always wished to borrow; Mr.

Oldbuck was not always willing to lend.Mr.Oldbuck, per contra, always wished to be repaid with regularity; Sir Arthur was not always, nor indeed often, prepared to gratify this reasonable desire; and, in accomplishing an arrangement between tendencies so opposite, little _miffs_ would occasionally take place.Still there was a spirit of mutual accommodation upon the whole, and they dragged on like dogs in couples, with some difficulty and occasional snarling, but without absolutely coming to a stand-still or throttling each other.

Some little disagreement, such as we have mentioned, arising out of business, or politics, had divided the houses of Knockwinnock and Monkbarns, when the emissary of the latter arrived to discharge his errand.In his ancient Gothic parlour, whose windows on one side looked out upon the restless ocean, and, on the other, upon the long straight avenue, was the Baronet seated, now turning over the leaves of a folio, now casting a weary glance where the sun quivered on the dark-green foliage and smooth trunks of the large and branching limes with which the avenue was planted.At length, sight of joy! a moving object is seen, and it gives rise to the usual inquiries, Who is it? and what can be his errand? The old whitish-grey coat, the hobbling gait, the hat half-slouched, half-cocked, announced the forlorn maker of periwigs, and left for investigation only the second query.This was soon solved by a servant entering the parlour,--``A letter from Monkbarns, Sir Arthur.''

Sir Arthur took the epistle with a due assumption of consequential dignity.

``Take the old man into the kitchen, and let him get some refreshment,'' said the young lady, whose compassionate eye had remarked his thin grey hair and wearied gait.

``Mr.Oldbuck, my love, invites us to dinner on Tuesday the 17th,'' said the Baronet, pausing;--``he really seems to forget that he has not of late conducted himself so civilly towards me as might have been expected.''

``Dear sir, you have so many advantages over poor Mr.

Oldbuck, that no wonder it should put him a little out of humour; but I know he has much respect for your person and your conversation;--nothing would give him more pain than to be wanting in any real attention.''

``True, true, Isabella; and one must allow for the original descent;--something of the German boorishness still flows in the blood; something of the whiggish and perverse opposition to established rank and privilege.You may observe that he never has any advantage of me in dispute, unless when he avails himself of a sort of pettifogging intimacy with dates, names, and trifling matters of fact--a tiresome and frivolous accuracy of memory, which is entirely owing to his mechanical descent.''

``He must find it convenient in historical investigation, Ishould think, sir?'' said the young lady.

``It leads to an uncivil and positive mode of disputing; and nothing seems more unreasonable than to hear him impugn even Bellenden's rare translation of Hector Boece, which I have the satisfaction to possess, and which is a black-letter folio of great value, upon the authority of some old scrap of parchment which he has saved from its deserved destiny of being cut up into tailor's measures.And besides, that habit of minute and troublesome accuracy leads to a mercantile manner of doing business, which ought to be beneath a landed proprietor whose family has stood two or three generations.I question if there's a dealer's clerk in Fairport that can sum an account of interest better than Monkbarns.''

``But you'll accept his invitation, sir?''

``Why, ye--yes; we have no other engagement on hand, Ithink.Who can the young man be he talks of?--he seldom picks up new acquaintance; and he has no relation that I ever heard of.''

``Probably some relation of his brother-in-law Captain M`Intyre.''

``Very possibly--yes, we will accept--the M`Intyres are of a very ancient Highland family.You may answer his card in the affirmative, Isabella; I believe I have, no leisure to be _Dear Sirring_ myself.''

So this important matter being adjusted, Miss Wardour intimated ``her own and Sir Arthur's compliments, and that they would have the honour of waiting upon Mr.Oldbuck.

Miss Wardour takes this opportunity to renew her hostility with Mr.Oldbuck, on account of his late long absence from Knockwinnock, where his visits give so much pleasure.'' With this _placebo_ she concluded her note, with which old Caxon, now refreshed in limbs and wind, set out on his return to the Antiquary's mansion.