"Lord Carse is safe enough. He is a prudent man. He could not get into favour with the king and the minister:--they knew two much harm of him for that. So he has made himself a courtier of the Prince of Wales. He has no idea of being thrust upon the dangers of rebellion while the event is uncertain; so he attaches himself in a useless way to the reigning family. And if Prince Charlie should succeed, Lord Carse can easily show that he never favoured King George or his minister, or did them any good.--As for Lovat, he is ill and quiet at home." "Which side is he on?" "He complains bitterly of his son being disobedient to him, and put upon his disobedience by his Jacobite acquaintance. If the young man joins Prince Charlie, it is thought that his father will stand by King George, that the family estates may be safe whichever way the war ends,--Bless me! what a sigh! One would think--Come now, what's the matter?" "The wickedness of it!" said Annie. "Oh! is that all? Lovat's wickedness is nothing new; and what better could you expect from his son? By the same rule, I have great expectations of your son. As you are sound, he will be sound too, and do his king and country good service. You are both on the same side, and not like the master of Lovat and his father." "We have no estates to corrupt our minds," observed Annie. "We have only our duty to care for." "Ay, then, you are on the same side." "Rollo is ready to march with the men of these islands. I am on no side, sir. I do not understand the matter, and I have nothing to do with it. There is no occasion for me to take any side." "Why yes; as it happens, there is, Mrs Fleming: and that is one of the things that brought me here to-day. Sir Alexander Macdonald desires that you will oblige him by not burning your lamp in the night till the troubles are over." "I am sorry that there is anything in which I cannot oblige Sir Alexander Macdonald: but I must burn my lamp." "But hear: you do not know his reasons. There are some suspicious vessels skulking about among these islands; and you ought to show them no favour till they show what they are." "You do not think, sir, you cannot surely think that anybody on this island is in danger from the enemy. There is nothing to bring them here,--no arms, nor wealth of any kind;--nothing that it would be worth the trouble of coming to take." "Oh no: you are all safe enough. No enemy would lose their time here. But that is no reason why you should give them help and comfort with your beacon-light." "You mean, sir, that if a storm drives them hither, or they lose their way, you would have them perish. Yes; that is what you mean, and that I cannot do. I must burn my lamp." "But my good friend, consider what you are doing. Consider the responsibility if you should succour the king's enemies!" "I did consider it well, sir, some years ago, and made up my mind. That was when the pirates were on the coast."