This，bytheway，prettywellexplainedthecauseofquarrelbetweentheBaronandhisHighlandally。Buthewentontostatesomanycuriousparticularsconcerningthemanners，customs，andhabitsofthispatriarchalrace，thatEdward’scuriositybecamehighlyinterested，andheinquiredwhetheritwaspossibletomakewithsafetyanexcursionintotheneighbouringHighlands，whoseduskybarrierofmountainshadalreadyexcitedhiswishtopenetratebeyondthem。TheBaronassuredhisguestthatnothingwouldbemoreeasy，providingthisquarrelwerefirstmadeup，sincehecouldhimselfgivehimletterstomanyofthedistinguishedchiefs，whowouldreceivehimwiththeutmostcourtesyandhospitality。
Whiletheywereonthistopic，thedoorsuddenlyopened，and，usheredbySaundersSaunderson，aHighlander，fullyarmedandequipped，enteredtheapartment。HaditnotbeenthatSaundersactedthepartofmasteroftheceremoniestothismartialapparition，withoutappearingtodeviatefromhisusualcomposure，andthatneitherMr。BradwardinenorRoseexhibitedanyemotion，Edwardwouldcertainlyhavethoughttheintrusionhostile。Asitwas，hestartedatthesightofwhathehadnotyethappenedtosee，amountaineerinhisfullnationalcostume。
TheindividualGaelwasastout，dark，youngman，oflowstature，theamplefoldsofwhoseplaidaddedtotheappearanceofstrengthwhichhispersonexhibited。Theshortkilt，orpetticoat，showedhissinewyandclean-madelimbs；thegoat-skinpurse，flankedbytheusualdefences，adirkandsteel-wroughtpistol，hungbeforehim；hisbonnethadashortfeather，whichindicatedhisclaimtobetreatedasaDuinh
wassel，orsortofgentleman；abroadsworddangledbyhisside，atargethunguponhisshoulder，andalongSpanishfowling-pieceoccupiedoneofhishands。Withtheotherhandhepulledoffhisbonnet，andtheBaron，whowellknewtheircustoms，andthepropermodeofaddressingthem，immediatelysaid，withanairofdignity，butwithoutrising，andmuch，asEdwardthought，inthemannerofaprincereceivinganembassy，Welcome，EvanDhuMaccombich！whatnewsfromFergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr？’’
FergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr，’’saidtheambassador，ingoodEnglish，greetsyouwell，BaronofBradwardineandTully-Veolan，andissorrytherehasbeenathickcloudinterposedbetweenyouandhim，whichhaskeptyoufromseeingandconsideringthefriendshipandalliancesthathavebeenbetweenyourhousesandforbearsofold；andhepraysyouthatthecloudmaypassaway，andthatthingsmaybeastheyhavebeenheretoforebetweentheclanIvorandthehouseofBradwardine，whentherewasaneggbetweenthemforaflint，andaknifeforasword。Andheexpectsyouwillalsosay，youaresorryforthecloud，andnomanshallhereafteraskwhetheritdescendedfromthehilltothevalley，orrosefromthevalleytothehill；fortheyneverstruckwiththescabbardwhodidnotreceivewiththesword；andwoetohimwhowouldlosehisfriendforthestormycloudofaspringmorning！’’