As he posted out of the room to borrow his sister's salts, he could not help giving a constitutional growl of chagrin and wonder at the various incidents which had converted his mansion, first into an hospital for a wounded duellist, and now into the sick chamber of a dying nobleman.

"And yet," said he, "I have always kept aloof from the soldiery and the peerage.
My coenobitium has only next to be made a lying-in hospital, and then, I trow, the transformation will be complete." When he returned with the remedy, Lord Glenallan was much better.
The new and unexpected light which Mr.Oldbuck had thrown upon the melancholy history of his family had almost overpowered him.

"You think, then, Mr.Oldbuck--for you are capable of thinking, which I am not--you think, then, that it is possible--that is, not impossible--my child may yet live ?" "I think," said the Antiquary, "it is impossible that it could come to any violent harm through your brother's means.

He was known to be a gay and dissipated man, but not cruel nor dishonourable; nor is it possible, that, if he had intended any foul play, he would have placed himself so forward in the charge of the infant, as I will prove to your lordship he did." So saying, Mr.Oldbuck opened a drawer of the cabinet of his ancestor Aldobrand, and produced a bundle of papers tied with a black ribband, and labelled,--Examinations, etc., taken by Jonathan Oldbuck, J.P., upon the 18th of February, 17--; a little under was written, in a small hand, Eheu Evelina! The tears dropped fast from the Earl's eyes, as he endeavoured, in vain, to unfasten the knot which secured these documents.
"Your lordship," said Mr.Oldbuck, "had better not read these at present.

Agitated as you are, and having much business before you, you must not exhaust your strength.