THE CAMERONIANS. A Novel. BY JAMES GRANT, AUTHOR OF 'THE ROMANCE OF WAR,' 'OLD AND NEW EDINBURGH, ETC. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON, Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen. 1881. [_All Rights Reserved._] TO GEORGE ROUTLEDGE, ESQ., MY OLD FRIEND AND PUBLISHER, I INSCRIBE THIS MILITARY STORY, AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT AND ESTEEM. PREFACE. The old Scottish regiment from which the following story takes its title, and of which the hero is described as a member, is on the point of losing its identity, and after the July of this year will be united with the 90th Perthshire Light Infantry, as 'The Scottish Cameronian Rifles,' thus losing, of course, its scarlet uniform, colours, and facings--the royal yellow of Scotland, which, by a correspondence with Mr. Childers, in March last, the author was fortunate enough to secure (instead of buff) for all Scottish infantry, not laced with blue. Of the merits of the new regimental system it is difficult to speculate as yet; but it will too probably create an endless confusion, and be long a source of regret to the entire army. 25, TAVISTOCK ROAD, WESTBOURNE PARK. May, 1881. CONTENTS OF VOL. I. CHAPTER I. EAGLESCRAIG II. HEW'S LOVE-MAKING III. FIRST IMPRESSIONS IV. COVER-SHOOTING V. HEW MAKES A VOW VI. A REVELATION VII. HEW'S 'MILD PLAY' VIII. 'THE LOVE THAT TOOK AN EARLY ROOT' IX. MRS. GARTH ACTS A FRIENDLY PART X. A CRISIS XI. HEW MAKES MISCHIEF XII. CECIL'S DEPARTURE XIII. IN SHADOW LAND XIV. LESLIE FOTHERINGHAME XV. SEPARATED XVI. ANNABELLE ERROLL XVII. HOPES AND FEARS XVIII. THE CAMERONIANS XIX. THE PROGRESS OF EVENTS XX. THE OLD STORY AGAIN THE CAMERONIANS. CHAPTER I. EAGLESCRAIG. 'Twenty-sixth Regiment,' said the old general, raising his voice, as he rustled the morning paper importantly, after taking it from the ebony reading-easel (attached to the arm of his large and comfortable velvet easy-chair), whereon Mr. Tunley, the butler, always laid the journals, after he had duly aired and cut them. 'Twenty-sixth Regiment,' he added, coughing and clearing his voice, 'a detachment of this distinguished corps, says the _Ayr Observer_, has recently arrived at the castle of Dumbarton, under the command of Lieutenants Cecil Falconer and Leslie Fotheringhame.' 'Well, there is nothing remarkable in that, uncle,' said one of his young lady listeners, who seemed chiefly intent upon her breakfast, and not much interested by the intelligence. 'My old regiment--my old regiment still,' said the old man, musingly. 'Gad, I'll have the senior--what's his name? Cecil Falconer--over here, for a few days' cover-shooting.' 'And why not the other too?' asked the young lady who had just spoken, laughingly; 'we might have an admirer each, Annabelle.' But Miss Erroll, to whom the name of Fotheringhame seemed not unknown, coloured and did not reply.