Page:Jeanie Deans and the lily of St. Leonard's.pdf/7

 7 The Deans, under the tender and affection ate care of her sister, had now shot up into a beautiful and blooming girl. She was current- ly entitled the Lily of St. Leonard's, a name which she deserved as much by her guileless pu- rity ot thought. speech, and actions as by her uncommon loveliness of face and person. With all her innocence and goodness of disposition, however, there were points in Effie's character that gave rise to strange doubt and apprehen- sion to her more considerate sister. Her cha- racter will be best illustrated by a cottage even- ing scene. The father was absent in his well stocked hyre foddering those useful and patient animals on whose produce his living depended, the sum- mer evening was beginning to close in, when Jeanie Deans began to be anxious for the ap- pearance of her sister, and to fear that she would not reach home before her father return. ed from the labour of the evening, when it was his custom to have a family exercise" and when she knew that Effie's absence would give him the most serious displeasure. Jeanie stood at the door, with her hands before her eyes to avoid the rays of the level sun, and looked al- ternately along the various tracts which led to- wards their dwelling to see if she could descry the nymph like form of her sister. There was a wall and stile which separated the King's Park from the public road; and directing her attention towards this point she saw two persons appear there somewhat suddenly. One of them a man drew hastily back as if to avoid obser- vation; the other, a female, advanced towards her,--it was Effie. " Whare hae ye been sae late at e'en ?" said