"And what of that ?" he resumed, in a tone affectedly cheerful--"it is only a house we can't get out of, after all--Suppose a fit of the gout, and Knockwinnock would be the same--Ay, ay, Monkbarns--we'll call it a fit of the gout without the d--d pain." But his eyes swelled with tears as he spoke, and his faltering accent marked how much this assumed gaiety cost him.

The Antiquary wrung his hand, and, like the Indian Banians, who drive the real terms of an important bargain by signs, while they are apparently talking of indifferent matters, the hand of Sir Arthur, by its convulsive return of the grasp, expressed his sense of gratitude to his friend, and the real state of his internal agony .-- They stepped slowly down the magnificent staircase--every well-known object seeming to the unfortunate father and daughter to assume a more prominent and distinct appearance than usual, as if to press themselves on their notice for the last time.
At the first landing-place, Sir Arthur made an agonized pause; and as he observed the Antiquary look at him anxiously, he said with assumed dignity--"Yes, Mr.Oldbuck, the descendant of an ancient line--the representative of Richard Redhand and Gamelyn de Guardover, may be pardoned a sigh when he leaves the castle of his fathers thus poorly escorted.

When I was sent to the Tower with my late father, in the year 1745, it was upon a charge becoming our birth--upon an accusation of high treason, Mr.Oldbuck;--we were escorted from Highgate by a troop of life-guards, and committed upon a secretary of state's warrant; and now, here I am, in my old age, dragged from my household by a miserable creature like that" (pointing to the messenger), "and for a paltry concern of pounds, shillings, and pence." "At least," said Oldbuck, "you have now the company of a dutiful daughter, and a sincere friend, if you will permit me to say so, and that may be some consolation, even without the certainty that there can be no hanging, drawing, or quartering, on the present occasion.

But I hear that choleric boy as loud as ever.

I hope to God he has got into no new broil!--it was an accursed chance that brought him here at all." In fact, a sudden clamour, in which the loud voice and somewhat northern accent of Hector was again preeminently distinguished, broke off this conversation.