Crawford and Blair had stood shoulder to shoulder in every national quarrel, and a marriage would put the two estates almost in a ring fence.
But he went the next day to meet the young men.

He had not seen his son for three years, and the lad was an object very near and dear to his heart.

He loved him tenderly as his son, he respected him highly as the future heir of Crawford and Traquare.

The Crawfords were a very handsome race; he was anxious that this, their thirteenth representative, should be worthy, even physically, of his ancestors.
He drew a long sigh of gratification as young Colin, with open hands, came up to him.

The future laird was a noble-looking fellow, a dark, swarthy Highlandman, with glowing eyes, and a frame which promised in a few years to fill up splendidly.
His companion was singularly unlike him.