her; Charlie immediately served him with notice of action. The case created great excitement. Charlie in this his maiden effort, showed that he was possessed of considerable talent, and in a most eloquent and manly speech pleaded the cause of his client. The defendant considerably damaged his own case by the gross insinuations he cast upon Charlie's character, which brought upon himself the disapprobation of the whole Court. The jury, however, returned an instantaneous and unanimous verdict for the plaintiff, with the full amount of the damages asked. The Lord Chief-Justice, in giving his concurrence to the verdict, told the defendant that he should order his name to be removed from the rolls of that honourable court, no longer allowing him an opportunity of disgracing an honourable profession of which he might have been a great ornament.
After this successful action, in which Charlie acquitted himself so nobly, briefs were entrusted to him from all quarters, and his chambers were constantly being visited by fresh clients. His manly and upright principles had gained for him the esteem and goodwill of all grades of society; but alas! these bright prospects were not destined to be of long duration, for one day he received the mournful intelligence from his servant Donald that his father had been taken seriously ill, and was not likely to recover. The writer went on to state that the letter was written without the sanction of Mr. Stuart, as he still entertained hopes of his recovery, and did not wish to interfere with Charlie's many engagements by sending for him, or even informing him of his illness. Upon receipt of the letter, Charlie made every arrangement for a speedy journey to the Highlands, entrusting the whole of his business to the care of Mr. Forbes.
CHAPTER XI.
A JOYFUL SURPRISE.
Having arrived safely at Kinlochlinn, Charlie, with a heavy heart and anxious mind approached his father's house, when seeing no one about and the blind in his
