change gave only a deeper charm to her
beauty, and even the father seemed to grow
conscious that there was something about his
little "lassie" that made her different from
"ither folk." There was a grace in her walk
which he saw no where else; and when she
sat in the silent kitchen, and took his hand in
hers after his work, and sang some old
Scotch ballad with a voice so sweet and clear;
old Andrew was very much astonished to
find somehow that his eyes had become filled
with tears, though he had never been so
happy in his life. But there were soon to be
other people to share in the old man's
admiration. The upper floor was still fit for
occupation, and after a little bargain-making
a grand English lady of the name of Mrs.
Donnington was installed in the apartments,
into which some scanty furniture was put
which Andrew brought in his cart from
Stirling.

When fairly distributed over the drawing-
room, and the little parlour, and the two
bed-rooms, it made the mansion appear in
the eyes of all the village the most sumptuous
dwelling-place that ever was inhabited by a
king. All the population flocked up to see
the rooms before the grand lady came. There
was a table of rosewood, covered with a
velvet cloth of the most rich and gorgeous
manufacture; embroidered on the centre of
it, in gold thread, was a coat-of-arms
representing griffins with expanded wings, and
other unknown animals. Then there were
six chairs, also of carved rosewood, and also
covered with velvet cushions, with the same
embroidered ornaments. On the mantel-piece
was a beautiful clock, in which Time, carved
in marble, blew a trumpet to awaken
Industry, which unfortunately had fallen asleep
on the pedestal; and over the middle of the
room was spread a carpet, so soft, so thick, so
beautiful in colour and design, that it was
thought a shame to apply so magnificent a
work to so degrading a use as to be trod
upon; but rather, it was unanimously agreed,
that it should be hung upon the walls,
carefully covered from dust with a linen cloth,
and only opened out on extraordinary
occasions. On the hearth-stone was spread
another article which excited still more
admiration. It was a rug composed of the
finest possible furs, all sewed and joined
together so as to make a beautifully variegated
pattern; and of so much value from
its size and quality, that there could be no
doubt that Leddy Donnington, as she was
called, was closely connected with the royal
family, or was even a cousin of the Governor
of the Bank. And a stately lady she was
when at last she made her appearance. With
high, thin features, a remarkably erect figure,
and a dignity of manner which at first overawed
and surprised the beholder, she seemed
in the eyes of Andrew Miller the exact
complement and appropriate conclusion to the
furniture by which she was surrounded. The
Queen of Sheba on her throne of gold was
not more fittingly established than Leddy
Donnington, with her feet on the fur rug, and
her elbow on the velvet cover of the table.
As for Bessy, she opened her eyes, and also
her mouth, but said nothing. She was
presented to the great lady as her maid-of-all-
work; her tire-woman; her chambermaid;
her dame de compagnie; and stood before
her in that four-fold capacity, holding tight
by her father's hand, who had ascended with
her to the drawing-room, and so blushed and
so flustered, and so stuttered and trembled at
the awful apparition, that she derived no
consolation even from the kind tone of voice
in which the old lady spoke, — nor recovered
her self-possession, till by little and little the
unaccustomed fear departed, and she went
nearer and nearer, and looked into the eyes
of her majestic mistress, and saw something
in them which seemed to soften when their
looks met; and on parting the first night, it
was scarcely with surprise—it certainly was
with pleasure—that she felt the grand dame's
hand laid upon her head, and her lips applied
to her cheek.

"Oh, faither, faither!" said Bessy, rushing
into the kitchen, "she kens what it is to hae
an orphan bairn, for she has a faitherless
laddie hersel."

"Puir woman!" said Andrew. "He'll
hae dee'd most likely o' the gout, for they say
English great folk are terrible on the turtle
and wine."

"And only think, faither!" continued
Bessy, "when I cam' awa' she kissed me!"

Andrew looked at her as she said this, as
if for a moment he feared her vanity had led
her to boast untruly; but when he saw how
real her gratification was, he said nothing,
but only looked at her with more pride and
affection than ever. He could not have
looked at her with more respect if she had
been that moment presented with the order
of the Garter, with permission to wear the
insignia on her arm.

The country side was alive with reports
and conjectures about the past and present
history of the Lady at Daisy Hope. Some
thought she was perhaps a former Mistress
of the Robes of her Majesty the Queen, and
had been condemned to her magnificent
exile for interfering too much in political
affairs. People who were lucky enough to
see her in a dress of solemn velvet, with a
veil of richest lace extending its thick covering
over her features, were the more confirmed
in the belief in her previous dignity in the
court, as they took it for granted that the
perquisites of the office included the royal
dresses; and nothing less than a crowned
head could have worn such articles of apparel.
Others of a still more suspicious disposition
believed she was one of the deposed potentates
who at that time were perambulating
Europe; but whether she was a Spanish
princess, or one of the elder Bourbons, they