Page:Female Portrait Gallery.pdf/52

128 tenor of the Scottish maiden's path; she belongs to that humble class, which, if it has neither the quick sensibilities, nor the graceful pleasures of a higher lot, is usually freed from its fever, its sorrows, and its great reverses; her very lover seems to ensure her against the troubles of that troubled time, ————whose spring resembles The uncertain glory of an April day." For Somewhat pensively he wooed, And spake of love with quiet blending, Slow to begin, and never ending, Of serious faith, and gentle glee." She dwells among her own people, with the prospect of no greater grief than to see, in the fullness of years, her father's grey head go down in honour to the grave. Patience and saving will, sooner or later, enable Reuben or herself to marry, when Contented wi' little, But canty wi' mair," they would be heads of a house as grave, calm, and well-ordered as those wherein their own childhood learnt its sedate and serious lessons. Yet this girl becomes the centre of one of those domestic tragedies which are the more terrible from their rare occurrence, and from the regular and pious habits which would seem to preclude their possibility. Disgrace darkens upon the humble roof tree,