132 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



neuk, for his careful revision. He reported that it would 

 take a clever man to revise it, for, like the Irishman's gun, 

 " it would need to be done all over again ! " The petition, 

 in consequence, never reached the House. 



As we shall see, Davidson's hostelry became the scene 

 of certain important botanical experiences in the life of the 

 twin botanists of our story. 



Yet, amidst the possibilities of cruel gossip, under the 

 watchful eyes and ready tongues of the unloving, active at 

 Netherton, the old rooted sorrow intruded itself here, not- 

 withstanding John's silence and care. His wife appeared in 

 the village soon after he had settled there, and made known 

 her relation to the stranger, twelve years and more after 

 their forced separation in Aberdeen. 



She had haunted him through all these years, like an 

 evil thought that would not be silenced. She had sought 

 him out near Monymusk, had risen as his evil genius at 

 Auchleven, and had allowed him no peace even in the 

 uplands of Tullynessle ; and here, again, she appeared at 

 Marnock's, to blight his good name, if that were possible. 

 It was indescribably baneful and hard to bear, especially in 

 new scenes, where he had to make his character amongst 

 new critics. The poor woman was now a wreck, palsied 

 and almost helpless, yet a homeless wanderer who would 

 not rest, even to wait for coming death. Her husband, dis- 

 turbed beyond expression though he was and had amplest 

 reason to be, did not reproach her, but arranged with the 

 Marnocks for her food and comfort that day and night, 

 when she rested in the kitchen under the gaze of the un- 

 sympathetic, and slept at night in a comfortable bed in the 

 barn. She left next morning, still bent on a wayfaring life, 



