length scaled the spence destined for his entertainment, and, overcome with fatigue, threw himself, I do not say into an easy chair, but into the easiest the apartment afforded.
Chapter XVI
A courtier extraordinary, who by diet
Of meats and drinks, his temperate exercise,
Choice music, frequent bath, his horary shifts
Of shirts and waistcoats, means to immortalize
Mortality itself, and makes the essence
Of his whole happiness the trim of court.
When the lord abbot had suddenly and superciliously vanished from the eyes of his expectant vassals, the subprior made amends for the negligence of his principal, by the kind and affectionate greeting which he gave to all the members of the family, but especially to Dame Elspeth, her foster-daughter, and her son Edward. 'Where,' he even condescended to inquire, 'is that naughty Nimrod, Halbert? He hath not yet, I trust, turned, like his great prototype, his hunting-spear against man!'
'O no, an it please your reverence,' said Dame Glen-dinning, 'Halbert is up at the glen to get some venison, or surely he would not have been absent when such a day of honour dawned upon me and mine.'
'Oh, to get savoury meat, such as our soul loveth,' muttered the sub-prior; 'it has been at times an acceptable gift. I bid you good morrow, my good dame, as I must attend upon his lordship the father abbot.'
'And oh, reverend sir,' said the good widow, detaining him, 'if it might be your pleasure to take part with us if there is anything wrong; and if there is anything wanted to say that it is just coming, or to make some excuses your learning best knows how. Every bit of vassail and silver-work have we been spoiled of since Pinkie Cleuch, when I lost poor Simon Glendinning, that was the warst of a'.'
'Never mind—never fear,' said the sub-prior, gently extricating his garment from the anxious grasp of Dame
