82 THE BANK ACCOUNTANT. 



engagement was now fully countenanced by her mother, 

 and the intercourse of the lovers was constant and un- 

 constrained. William Ross was in his grave ; John 

 Swanson was about to leave the district ; his friendship 

 with Miss Dunbar had become a tender and exalting 

 reminiscence. He clung all the more closely to her who 

 was yet left to him, in whom he found the affection of 

 Ross, the mental stimulus of Swanson, the sympathy 

 of Miss Dunbar, and who was dearer to him than them 

 all. As Miss Eraser resided almost uninterruptedly in 

 Cromarty, there is not much in the way of correspond- 

 ence between her and Hugh to throw light upon their 

 intercourse at this period ; but we have one or two let- 

 ters, through which, as through 'luminous windows,' 

 we can see into the ' happy palace ' of love and friend- 

 ship in which these two abode. Here is a note from 

 the lady. 



' My own Hugh, I am tired, tired of being away 

 from you. Alas ! you have no idea of the frivolous 

 bondage to which sex and fashion subject us. I do no- 

 thing all day, and hear nothing, yet I am obliged to take 

 the time from sleep which I devote to you. I have found 

 the young captain whom I threatened you with much 

 handsomer than I described him to you, but a thousand 

 times more insipid. Why, when I look at him, do I 

 always think of you ? or why do his black, bright eyes, 

 that would be fine had they meaning, always remind 

 me of those gentle blue ones which I have so often seen 

 melt with benevolence and a chastened tenderness ? 

 Why are mankind such slaves of appearances as to ad- 

 mire the casket and neglect the gem ? It is degradation 

 to the dignity of thought and sentiment to compare it 

 with a mere beauty of form or colour. Good-bye. 



' It is morning, but I am not beside you on the 



