DEER-STALKING. 207 



Donald. — Well, your Grace, is he to kill a stag 

 or have a shot, or only see deer, or just go for 

 a wa-a-lk ? " 



Long and terrible was the pause, and painfully 

 excited the interest of the listener, before, in o-rave 

 measured tones, the evidently well-weighed and 

 thought-out decision reached his ear, — " Well, Donald, 

 you may just take him a walk!" I never heard, 

 or forget, the sequel — possibly there was none. The 

 story always ended there, and being one of extreme 

 antiquity perhaps is not altogether to be depended 

 on, but if true this young man was, at least, fore- 

 warned of his doom, and easily learned the tricks 

 of the deer-stalking trade, of which many old and 

 young remain long, and perhaps for ever, ignorant. 



What an adamantine, unrelenting heart must he 

 have who issues such an edict ! and of what pitiless 

 and vile materials must his be composed who 

 executes it ! How can he walk all day beside a 

 young bright being, who in his innocence confides 

 to him all his sanguine hopes and aspirations, not 



