Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/324

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that was his disappointment on finding that they were filled with strangers!

The strangers were not destitute of humanity; and perceiving how deeply he was chagrined, endeavoured to soothe and tranquillize his spirits. In this they were kinder than his own child, whom, soon after he entered Perth, on his return, he saw talking from the window of the inn, to a gentleman, who stood in the street below. As the chaise drew up, she caught the glance of her father's eye, and retreated, uttering a screaming exclamation; Mollins, to whom she had been talking, running at the same time into the house. You may imagine how my father was agitated. He involuntarily pursued his way up stairs to the room where Bell was. As he entered, she threw herself into a chair by the window, and either fainted, or pretended to faint. "In the name of goodness, what is the meaning of all this?" said my father, addressing himself to Mrs Flinders, who was holding her smelling-