"Murdered! where's the poker?" said the advocate in some alarm; "but nonsense! we are three men besides the servants, and there is honest Liddesdale worth half a dozen to boot--we have the major vis upon our side--however, here, my friend Dandie--Davie--what do they call You?--keep between that fellow and us for the protection of the ladies." "Lord! Mr. Pleydell," said the astonished farmer, "that's Captain Brown; d'ye no ken the Captain?" "Nay, if he's a friend of yours, we may be safe enough," answered Pleydell; "but keep near him." All this passed with such rapidity, that it was over before the Dominie had recovered himself from a fit of absence, shut the book which he had been studying in a corner, and advancing to obtain a sight of the strangers, exclaimed at once, upon beholding Bertram, "If the grave can give up the dead, that is my dear and honoured master!" "We're right after all, by Heaven! I was sure I was right," said the lawyer; "he is the very image of his father.--Come, Colonel, what do you think of, that you do not bid your guest welcome? I think--I believe--I trust we're right--never saw such a likeness!--But patience--Dominie, say not a word.--Sit down, young gentleman." "I beg pardon, sir; if I am, as I understand, in Colonel Mannering's house, I should wish first to know if my accidental appearance here gives offence, or if I am welcome?" Mannering instantly made an effort. "Welcome? most certainly, especially if you can point out how I can serve you. I believe I may have some wrongs to repair towards you--I have often suspected so; but your sudden and unexpected appearance, connected with painful recollections, prevented my saying at first, as I now say, that whatever has procured me the honour of this visit, it is an acceptable one." Bertram bowed with an air of distant, yet civil acknowledgment, to the grave courtesy of Mannering. "Julia, my love, you had better retire. Mr. Brown, you will excuse my daughter; there are circumstances which I perceive rush upon her recollection." Miss Mannering rose and retired accordingly; yet, as--she passed Bertram, could not suppress the words, "Infatuated! a second time!" but so pronounced as to be heard by him alone. Miss Bertram accompanied her friend, much surprised, but without venturing second glance at the object of her terror. Some mistake she saw there was, and was unwilling to increase it by denouncing the stranger as an assassin. He was known, she saw, to the Colonel, and received as a gentleman; certainly he either was not the person she suspected, or Hazlewood was right in supposing the shot accidental.