The lackey, meanwhile, advanced to the carriage; and, putting in both his hands, as if to catch so something, he pulled forth a small bundle, enveloped in a military cloak, the contents of which would have baffled conjecture, but for the large cocked hat and little booted leg which protruded at opposite extremities.
A loud but slow and well-modulated voice now resounded through the narrow stone passage that conducted to the drawing-room.
"Bring him in--bring him in, Philistine! I always call my man Philistine, because he has Sampson in his hands. Set him down there," pointing to an easy chair, as the group now entered, headed by Lady Maclaughlan.
"Well, girls!" addressing the venerable spinsters, as they severally exchanged a tender salute; "so you're all alive, I see;--humph!"
"Dear Lady Maclaughlan, allow me to introduce our beloved niece, Lady Juliana Douglas," said Miss Grizzy, leading her up, and bridling as she spoke with ill-suppressed exultation.
"So--you're very pretty--yes, you are very pretty!" kissing the forehead, cheeks, and chin of the youthful beauty between every pause. Then, holding her at arm's length, she surveyed her from head to foot, with elevated brows, and a broad fixed stare.
"Pray sit down, Lady Maclaughlan," cried her three friends all at once, each tendering a chair.
"Sit down!" repeated she; "why, what should I sit down for? I choose to stand--I don't like to sit--I never sit at home--do I, Sir Sampson?" turning to the little warrior, who, having been seized with a violent fit of coughing on his entrance, had now sunk back, seemingly quite exhausted, while the _Philistine_ was endeavouring to disencumber him of his military accoutrements.
"How very distressing Sir Sampson's cough is!" said the sympathising Miss Grizzy.
"Distressing, child! No--it's not the least distressing. How can a thing be distressing that does no harm? He's much the better of it--it's the only exercise he gets."
"Oh! well, indeed, if that's the case, it would be a thousand pities to stop it," replied the accommodating spinster.
"No, it wouldn't be the least pity to stop it!" returned Lady Maclaughlan, in her loud authoritative tone; "because, though it's not distressing, it's very disagreeable. But it cannot be stopped--you might as well talk of stopping the wind--it is a cradle cough."