And now that I call to mind, there was a young
gentleman, your namesake, that marched surgeon in the year '45 with
my battalion."
"I believe that would be a brother to Balfour of Baith," said I,
for I was ready for the surgeon now.
"The same, sir," said James More. "And since I have been fellow-
soldier with your kinsman, you must suffer me to grasp your hand."
He shook hands with me long and tenderly, beaming on me the while
as though he had found a brother.
"Ah!" says he, "these are changed days since your cousin and I
heard the balls whistle in our lugs."
"I think he was a very far-away cousin," said I, drily, "and I
ought to tell you that I never clapped eyes upon the man."
"Well, well," said he, "it makes no change. And you--I do not
think you were out yourself, sir--I have no clear mind of your
face, which is one not probable to be forgotten."
"In the year you refer to, Mr. Macgregor, I was getting skelped in
the parish school," said I.
"So young!" cries he. "Ah, then, you will never be able to think
what this meeting is to me. In the hour of my adversity, and here
in the house of my enemy, to meet in with the blood of an old
brother-in-arms--it heartens me, Mr.
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