Transcriber’s note Variable spelling and hyphenation have been retained. Minor punctuation inconsistencies have been silently repaired. A list of the changes made can be found at the end of the book. Formatting and special characters are indicated as follows: _italic_ HARRY MUIR. A STORY OF SCOTTISH LIFE. BY THE AUTHOR OF “PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF MRS. MARGARET MAITLAND,” “MERKLAND,” “ADAM GRAEME,” &C. “God pardon thee! yet let me wonder, Harry, At thy affections.... The hope and expectation of thy time Is ruined; and the soul of every man, Prophetically, does forethink thy fall.” KING HENRY IV. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN, 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1853. LONDON: Printed by Schulze and Co., 13, Poland Street. HARRY MUIR. CHAPTER I. Methinks, Sir, A mother’s heart’s transparent--’tis so easy To find the way into ’t. “WELL, Cuthbert, my man, are you back from your gowks errand? The month is far on now; it has taken you long,” said Mrs. Charteris. “I have first to present my friend to you, mother,” said the advocate; “and as he will be Mr. Harry Muir only a day or two longer, we must make the most of him while he bears his old name.” “So you were right after all?” said the old lady, lifting up her hands. “Dear me, Cuthbert, to think of that! You see, Mr. Muir, I could not believe his story, and prophesied that he was sure to fail--though I am very glad I was wrong. You are welcome to Edinburgh, and I wish you joy of your inheritance.” With a natural diffidence, which flushed his cheek, and slightly restrained his speech, Harry Muir made his acknowledgments. His dress had been most carefully overlooked before he left Glasgow that morning, and his eye was shining with animation and high hope. Mrs. Charteris felt “her heart warm” to the stranger as he took the great easy-chair in the corner, and bent forward towards Cuthbert as to his guide and counsellor. The attitude and expression charmed Cuthbert’s mother. She felt that her son had done much for this young man--that he would do more--and Harry Muir became dear to her good heart, because he made her son dearer, and still more worthy of love.