With Frederick the Great | Page 6

to him
the acme of discomfort. It was not long, however, before he came upon
a group of officers, and saw that the military etiquette was no less strict,
in their case, than in that of the soldiers, save that their collars were less
high, and their stocks more easy. Their walk, too, was somewhat less
automatic and machine-like, but they were certainly in strong contrast
to the British officers he had seen, on the occasions of his one or two
visits to Perth.
On reaching the palace, and saying that he wished to see Marshal Keith,
he was conducted by a soldier to his apartment; and on the former
taking in the youth's name, he was at once admitted. The marshal rose
from his chair, came forward, and shook him heartily by the hand.
"So you are Fergus Drummond," he said, "the son of my cousin Maggie!
Truly she lost no time in sending you off, after she got my letter. I was
afraid she might be long before she could bring herself to part from
you."
"She had made up her mind to it so long, sir, that she was prepared for
it; and indeed, I think that she did her best to hurry me off as soon as
possible, not only because your letter was somewhat urgent, but
because it gave her less time to think."
"That was right and sensible, lad, as indeed Maggie always was, from a
child.
"She did not speak too strongly about you, for indeed I should have
taken you for fully two years older than you are. You have lost no time
in growing, lad, and if you lose no more in climbing, you will not be
long before you are well up the tree.
"Now, sit you down, and let me first hear all about your mother, and
how she fares."
"In the first place, sir, she charged me to give you her love and
affection, and to thank you for your good remembrance of her, and for

writing to her so often, when you must have had so many other matters
on your mind."
"I was right glad when I heard that they had given her back Kilgowrie.
It is but a corner of your father's lands; but I remember the old house
well, going over there once, when I was staying with your grandfather,
to see his mother, who was then living there. How much land goes with
it?"
"About a thousand acres, but the greater part is moor and mountain.
Still, the land suffices for her to live on, seeing that she keeps up no
show, and lives as quietly as if she had never known anything better."
"Aye, she was ever of a contented spirit. I mind her, when she was a
tiny child; if no one would play with her, she would sit by the hour
talking with her dolls, till someone could spare time to perch her on his
shoulder, and take her out."
Marshal Keith was a tall man, with a face thoughtful in repose, but
having a pleasant smile, and an eye that lit up with quiet humour when
he spoke. He enjoyed the king's confidence to the fullest extent, and
was regarded by him not only as a general in whose sagacity and skill
he could entirely rely, but as one on whose opinion he could trust upon
all political questions. He was his favourite companion when, as
happened not unfrequently, he donned a disguise and went about the
town, listening to the talk of the citizens and learning their opinions
upon public affairs.
"I have spoken to the king about your coming, lad, and told him that
you were a kinsman of mine.
"'Indeed, marshal,' the king said, 'from what I can see, it appears to me
that all Scotchmen are more or less kin to each other.'
"'It is so to some extent, your majesty. We Scotchmen pride ourselves
on genealogy, and know every marriage that has taken place, for ages
past, between the members of our family and those of others; and claim
as kin, even though very distant, all those who have any of our blood

running in their veins. But in this case the kinship is close, the lad's
mother being a first cousin of mine. His father was killed at Culloden,
and I promised her, as soon as the news came to me, that when he had
grown up strong and hearty he should join me, wherever I might be,
and should have a chance of making his fortune by his sword.'
"'You say that he speaks both French and German well? It is more than
I can do,' the king said with a laugh. 'German born and German king as
I am, I get on but