I thought it would be as well to drop the allusion there, so I said, “That’s exactly what mother used to say when I did anything wrong: ‘Sam, ain’t you ashamed.’ ‘No, I ain’t,’ said I. ‘Then you ought to be,’ she’d reply.
“It’s a fixed fact, then,” said I, “that we go to-morrow to the Beaver dam?”
“Yes,” said he, “I shall be delighted. Jessie, you and your sister will accompany us, won’t you?”
“I should be charmed,” she replied.
“I think you will be pleased with it,” he continued, “it will just suit you; it’s so quiet and retired. But you must let Etienne take the horse, and carry a letter to my sergeant and his commanding officer, Betty, to give them notice of our visit, or he will go through the whole campaign in Spain before he is done, and tell you how ill the commissariat-people were used, in not having notice given to them to lay in stores. I never was honoured with the presence of ladies there before, and he will tell you he is broken-hearted at the accommodation. I don’t know what there is in the house; but the rod and the gun will supply us, I think, and the French boy, when he returns, will bring me word if anything is wanted from the shore.”
“Jessie,” said I, “can’t you invite the two Highland lassies and their brother that were here last night, and let us have a reel this evening?”
“Oh! yes,” she said, and going into the kitchen, the message was despatched immediately. As soon as the guests arrived, Peter produced his violin, and the doctor waking out of one of his brown studies, jumped up like a boy, and taking one of the new-comers by the hand, commenced a most joyous and rapid jig, the triumph of which seemed to consist in who should tire the other out. The girl had youth and agility on her side; but the doctor was not devoid of activity, and the great training which his constant exercise kept him in, threw the balance in his favour; so when he ceased, and declared the other victorious, it was evident that it was an act of grace, and not of necessity. After that we all joined in an eight-handed reel, and eight merrier and happier people I don’t think were ever before assembled at Ship Harbour.
In the midst of it the door opened, and a tall, thin, cadaverous-looking man entered, and stood contemplating us in silence. He had a bilious-looking countenance, which the strong light of the fire and candles, when thrown upon it, rendered still more repulsive. He had a broad-brimmed hat on his head, which he did not condescend to remove, and carried in one hand a leather travelling-bag, as lean and as dark-complexioned as himself, and in the other a bundle of temperance newspapers. Peter seeing that he did not speak or advance, called out to him, with a face beaming with good humour, as he kept bobbing his head, and keeping time with his foot (for his whole body was affected by his own music).
“Come in, friend, come in, she is welcome. Come in, she is playin’ herself just now, but she will talk to you presently.” And then he stamped his foot to give emphasis to the turn of the tune, as if he wanted to astonish the stranger with his performance.
The latter however not only seemed perfectly insensible to its charms, but immoveable. Peter at last got up from his chair, and continued playing as he advanced towards him; but he was so excited by what was going on among the young people, that he couldn’t resist dancing himself, as he proceeded down the room, and when he got to him, capered and fiddled at the same time.