CHAP. ix. A LADY VISITOR. 169 



Aberdeen, still I may say I belong to it. My mother 

 was an Aberdeen woman, and I was brought up here, 

 until I went to Banff." " Ah," said the lady, " I 

 thought so. Your countenance and appearance are 

 very much the same as they were when I last saw 

 you." "Indeed!" 



" Were you not at one time a private in the Aber- 

 deenshire militia?" " I was; but what of that?" 

 " Allow me to explain : Do you remember running 

 out of the ranks one day while at drill, and flying 

 after a butterfly ?" " I do," said Edward. 



" And of being pursued and taken prisoner by a 

 corporal and four men of your company, when you 

 were brought up before the officer, who gave you 

 your liberty ?" 



" Yes," said Edward, " all that is true." " And 

 perhaps you remember that there was a group 

 of ladies with the officer?" "Oh yes, I remember 

 that." " Well, then, I was one of those ladies ; and 

 I first proposed to the others that we should inter- 

 cede with the captain to let you off." 



The lady then proceeded to explain that she her- 

 self was an entomologist, and had been greatly pleased 

 with the collection. Edward, on his part, thanked 

 her most cordially for the good service she had been 

 able to do for him on the links that day, now so long 

 past. " But now," she added, " as one good turn de- 

 serves another, will you come and take your tea and 

 supper with us some evening ?" Edward was thun- 



