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. III. 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. The Count is neither sad nor sick, nor merry, nor well; but civil, Count--civil as an orange, and something of that jealous complexion.--MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. ON the eve of the important party, Cuthbert Charteris arrived at Allenders. Half-frozen with his journey, and shaking from his coat large flakes of the snow, which trembled in the air, they took him into the dining-room, where a blazing fire, a late dinner, and the warm and smiling welcome of Agnes greatly solaced the wayfarer. Harry had met him in Stirling, and driven him out; but Harry’s carriage, though it could be closed, was not so comfortable on a December night as in the bright sunshine of a July day. Cuthbert made hurried inquiries after Martha and Rose, in answer to which Agnes began a most animated account of an unexpected call from “young Mr. Dunlop” to say that his sister would be very happy to come with him to Agnes’s party. Little Mrs. Muir Allenders, had only ventured at the last moment to invite the baronet’s daughter; and then with but the faintest expectation that Miss Dunlop would come. Agnes was greatly elated; and Rose and Martha were with Mr. Dunlop in the drawing-room.