But he argued
with himself that he had found no infringement of it under Blue
Peter; and that, if the marquis were really as friendly as he
professed to be, it was not likely to turn out otherwise with him.
Lady Florimel anticipated pleasure in Malcolm's probable consent
to her father's plan; but certainly he would not have been greatly
uplifted by a knowledge of the sort of pleasure she expected. For
some time the girl had been suffering from too much liberty. Perhaps
there is no life more filled with a sense of oppression and lack
of freedom than that of those under no external control, in whom
Duty has not yet gathered sufficient strength to assume the reins
of government and subject them to the highest law. Their condition
is like that of a creature under an exhausted receiver--oppressed
from within outwards for want of the counteracting external weight.
It was amusement she hoped for from Malcolm's becoming in a sense
one of the family at the House--to which she believed her knowledge of
the extremely bare outlines of his history would largely contribute.
He was shown at once into the presence of his lordship, whom he
found at breakfast with his daughter.
"Well, MacPhail," said the marquis, "have you made up your mind to
be my skipper?"
"Willin'ly, my lord," answered Malcolm.
"Do you know how to manage a sailboat?"
"I wad need, my lord."
"Shall you want any help?"
"That depen's upo' saiveral things--her am size, the wull o' the
win', an' whether or no yer lordship or my leddy can tak the tiller.
Pages:
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320