Wilsons Tales of the Borders and Scotland, Vol. XXIII. | Page 7

may, it will light the lantern that will show Henney Napier to
the bonnie haughs of Eastleys."
Mrs. Hislop having got back her paper from Mr. Dallas, left the writer's
chambers, and directed her steps to Mill's Court, where she found Mr.
White, even as she had Mr. Dallas, busy poring over law papers. She
was, as we have seen, one of those people who can make their own
introduction acceptable, and, moreover, one of those women, few as
they are, who can tell a story with the continuity and fitting emphasis
necessary to secure the attention of a busy listener. So Mr. White heard
her narrative, not only with interest, but even a touch of the pervading
sympathy of the spirit of romance. And so he might; for who doesn't
see that the charm of mystery can be enhanced by the hope of turning it
to account of money? Then he was so much of a practical man as to
know that while every string has two ends, the true way to get hold of
both is to make sure in the first place of one. Wherefore he began to
interrogate his client as to who could speak to the doings in the house
in Meggat's Land on that eventful night when the child was born; and
having taken notes of the answers to his questions, he paused a little, as
if to consider what was the first step he ought to take into the region of
doubt, and perhaps of intrigue, where at least there must be lies floating
about like films in the clear atmosphere of truth. Nor had he meditated
many minutes till he rose, and taking up his square hat and his
gold-headed cane, he said--
"Come, we will try what we can discover in a quarter where an end of
the ravelled string ought to be found, whether complicated into a knot
by the twisting power of self-interest or no."
And leading the way, he proceeded with his client down the High
Street, where, along under the glimmering lamps, were the usual
crowds of loungers, composed of canny Saxon and fiery Celt, which

have always made this picturesque thoroughfare so remarkable. Not
one of all these had any interest for our two searchers; but it was
otherwise when they came toward the Canongate Tolbooth, where, out
from a dark entry sprang a young woman, and bounding forward,
seized our good dame round the neck. This was no other than Henney
Hislop herself, who, having been alarmed at the long absence of her
"mother," as she called her, and of course believed her to be, was so
delighted to find her, that she sobbed out her joy in such an artless way,
that even the writer owned it was interesting to behold. Nor was the
picture without other traits calculated to engage attention; for the girl
whose fortunes had been so strange, and were perhaps destined to be
still more strange, was dressed in the humblest garb--the short gown
and the skirt peculiar to the time; but then every tint was so bright with
pure cleanliness, the earrings set off so fine a skin, the indispensable
strip of purple round the head imparted so much of the grace of the old
classic wreath; and beyond all this, which might be said to be
extraneous, her features--if you abated the foresaid cast or slight squint
in the eyes, which imparted a piquancy--were so regular, if not
handsome, that you could not have denied that she deserved to be a
Napier, if she was not a very Napier in reality. A few words whispered
in Mrs. Hislop's ear, and the girl was off, leaving our couple to proceed
on their way. Even this incident had its use; for Mr. White, who had
known Mr. Napier, and had faith (as who has not?) in the hereditary
descent of bodily aspects, could not restrain himself from the remark,
however much it might inflame the hopes of his client--"The curse has
left no blight there," said he. "That is the very face of Mr. Napier--the
high nose especially; and as for the eyes, with that unmistakeable cast,
why, I have seen their foretypes in the head of John Napier a hundred
times."
An observation so congenial to Mrs. Hislop, that she could not help
being a little humorous, even in the depth of an anxiety which had kept
her silent for the full space of ten minutes.
"Nose, sir! there wasn't a man frae the castle yett to Holyrood wha
could have produced that nose except John Napier."
And without further interruption than her own laugh, they proceeded
till they came to the entry called Big Lochend Close, up which they
went some forty or fifty steps till they came to