I was sure a strolling painter could not have carried it off so.

She may marry him, I suppose, if the law is not against it--then she has the earldom, and the Oaklands, and Nettlewood, all at once .-- Gad, we should come in winners, after all--and, I dare say, this old boy Touchwood is as rich as a Jew--worth a hundred thousand at least--He is too peremptory to be cut up for sixpence under a hundred thousand .-- And he talks of putting me to rights--I must not wince--must stand still to be curried a little--Only, I wish the law may permit Clara's being married to this other earl .-- A woman cannot marry two brothers, that is certain:--but then, if she is not married to the one of them in good and lawful form, there can be no bar to her marrying the other, I should think--I hope the lawyers will talk no nonsense about it--I hope Clara will have no foolish scruples .-- But, by my word, the first thing I have to hope is, that the thing is true, for it comes through but a suspicious channel.

I'll away to Clara instantly--get the truth out of her--and consider what is to be done." Thus partly thought and partly spoke the young Laird of St.Ronan's, hastily dressing himself, in order to enquire into the strange chaos of events which perplexed his imagination.
When he came down to the parlour where they had supped last night, and where breakfast was prepared this morning, he sent for a girl who acted as his sister's immediate attendant, and asked, "if Miss Mowbray was yet stirring ?" The girl answered, "she had not rung her bell." "It is past her usual hour," said Mowbray, "but she was disturbed last night.

Go, Martha, tell her to get up instantly--say I have excellent good news for her--or, if her head aches, I will come and tell them to her before she rises--go like lightning." Martha went, and returned in a minute or two.

"I cannot make my mistress hear, sir, knock as loud as I will.