第25章
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  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!’’

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