The poor gentleman waved his hand with a gesture of resignation and became silent.
“Everage, on that bed of illness and self-examination, I made many a retrospection of my past life, and many a resolution for my future one. Among my retrospections was a review of my motives in going to so much trouble and expense in establishing my claim to the Barony of Killcrichtoun, which I really did not want. I believe now that my only incentives to that action were idleness and ennui. I had nothing to do; and I was weary of my life. But having made the discovery of my descent from the old baron, I took some little interest in tracing back the lineage; and found some little excitement in following up the investigation and proving my claim. But as soon as all that was over and I found myself addressed on all sides as ‘Lord Killcrichtoun,’ ‘your lordship,’ and ‘my lord,’—on my soul, Everage, I felt heartily ashamed of myself and title——”
“Yet it is an ancient and an honorable title,” sighed the poor gentleman, and he thought—“He values it so lightly, this proud Virginian, while I—I have staked my soul upon the bare chance of some day gaining it!”
“Yes, it is an ancient and honorable title; and it would well become an English heir—it would well become yourself, Everage! And but for me you would have been the bearer of it.”
“But for you, my lord, I should never have heard of my remote connection with it.”
“Everage, my friend, will you do me the favor to leave out all reference to that title in speaking to me? To hear it so applied makes me feel like a fool and that is a fact. I am a plain Republican gentleman, a little proud or perhaps I should say, conceited, on account of my old State, and still more so in respect of my native country; but I am not such an ass as to want to be a ‘Lord.’ Enough of that. What I have said, what I may yet say of myself will only be to explain my plan for you. Listen. Everage; I shall not claim your attention very long.”
“I am listening, sir.”
“I am going to try to be reconciled to my poor wife. (My illness brought me to my senses on that subject also.) I am going to try to be reconciled to my wife; and then we are going to return to our native land. But before I do either—before I do anything—I shall make over the Killcrichtoun estate to you.”
At this announcement the poor gentleman sprang to his feet, as if he had been shot from his chair; then, sinking back again, he covered his face with his hands and uttered such deep, heart-rending groans as could only be wrenched from a bosom wrung by remorse.
“Everage! Everage! my friend, what is the matter? Good Heavens! how nervous you are! How shattered your health must be! But you will recover your strength again when you leave this stifling atmosphere composed of smoke and fog, and get away to the bracing breezes of the Highlands!” said Alick, kindly.