Guy Mannering.

GUY MANNERING. 157
The stranger had smiled slightly at some parts of this
recital, but ere he could answer, the clatter of a horse's
hoofs was heard, and a smart servant, handsomely dressed,
with a cockade in his hat, bustled into the kitchen, with
" Make a little room, good people; " when, observing the
stranger, he descended at once into the modest and civil
domestic, his hat sunk down by his side, and he put a
letter into his master's hands. "The family at Ellangowan, sir, are in great distress, and unable to receive any
visits."
" I know it," replied his master.-" And now, madam,
if you will have the goodness to allow me to occupy the
parlour you mentioned, as you are disappointed of your
guests "" Certainly, sir," said Mrs. Mac-Candlish, and hastened
to light the way with all the imperative bustle which an
active landlady loves to display on such occasions.
" Young man," said the Deacon to the servant, filling
a glass, " ye'll no be the waur o' this, after your ride."' Not a feather, sir,-thank ye-your very good health,
sir."
"And wha may your master be, friend?"
"What, the gentleman that was here?-that's the
famous Colonel Mannering, sir, from the East Indies."
" What, him we read of in the newspapers?"
"Ay, ay, just the same. It was he relieved Cuddieburn, and defended Chingalore, and defeated the great
Mahratta Chief, Ram Jolli Bundleman-I was with him
in most of his campaigns."
"Lord safe us," said the landlady, " I must go see
what he would have for supper-that I should set him
down here! "
" O, he likes that all the better, mother;-you never