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"I will remember what you say, and do my very best," said Laura earnestly, "for I do sincerely respect Mr Haldane for his efforts to retrieve the past, and I should despise myself did I not appreciate the delicate consideration he has shown for s as you suppose Auntie!" she exclai in upon her, "Mr Haldane is your knight"
"And a very plain, prosaic knight, no doubt, he seems to you"
"I confess that he does, and yet when I think of it I adainst tremendous odds Indeed, his present position in contrast hat he was involves sothat I can only think of hied men who have risen froed characteristics when he next calls," said Mrs Arnot quietly "One would have supposed that such a rugged nature would have interposed soive me, auntie; I aht; but it is natural that I should ht is like one of those remorseful men of the olden time who, partly from faith and partly in penance for past oes away to parts unknown to fight the infidel My knight is clad in shining steel; nor is the steel less true because overlaid with a filagree of gold; and he willrude and ponderous blows, but by teaching it so of his own fair courtesy and his own rich culture"
"Your description of Haldane is very fanciful and a little far-fetched," said Mrs Arnot, laughing; "should I reply in like vein I would only add that I believe that he will henceforth keep the 'white cross' on his knightly mantle unstained Already he seems to have won a place in that ancient and honorable order established so o, the members of which were entitled to inscribe upon their shields the legend, 'He that ruleth his own spirit is better than he that taketh a city' But we are carrying this fanciful iether I know that you will do for Haldane all that womanly delicacy permits, and that is all I wish Mr Beau since asked both your uncle's consent and ave our approval, we have left you wholly free to follow the pros of your own heart In the world's estimation, Laura, it will be a brilliant alliance for each party; but my prayer shall be that it may be a happy and sy and increasing content in each other's society Nothing can compensate for the absence of a warm, kind heart, and the nature that is without it is like a hoer and more stately it is, the colder and more cheerless it seems"