' Flora had soon ceased to listen to Edward, and was again
intent upon her needlework.
'Do you remember,' she said, looking up with a ghastly smile, 'you once
found me making Fergus's bride-favours, and now I am sewing his bridal
garment. Our friends here,' she continued, with suppressed emotion, 'are
to give hallowed earth in their chapel to the bloody relics of the last
Vich Ian Vohr. But they will not all rest together; no--his head!--I
shall not have the last miserable consolation of kissing the cold lips of
my dear, dear Fergus!'
The unfortunate Flora here, after one or two hysterical sobs, fainted in
her chair. The lady, who had been attending in the ante-room, now entered
hastily, and begged Edward to leave the room, but not the house.
When he was recalled, after the space of nearly half an hour, he found
that, by a strong effort, Miss Mac-Ivor had greatly composed herself. It
was then he ventured to urge Miss Bradwardine's claim to be considered as
an adopted sister, and empowered to assist her plans for the future.
'I have had a letter from my dear Rose,' she replied, 'to the same
purpose. Sorrow is selfish and engrossing, or I would have written to
express that, even in my own despair, I felt a gleam of pleasure at
learning her happy prospects, and at hearing that the good old Baron has
escaped the general wreck.
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