Page:Rob Roy, the celebrated Highland freebooter, or, Memoirs of the Osbaldistone family (2).pdf/4

 corn, price of commodities, and a discription of battles. A leading topic with all of them was robberies; and such details were given, as to raise serious apprehensions of being attacked. There was one man in particular, with whom Frank travelled a day and a half, who was very much afraid of highwaymen; and this man had a large portmanteau, which hee always carried into the inns himself, suffering no one to touch it. Frank, in order to amuse himself, inquired the weight and contents of his portmanteau; which alarmed the man so much, that he grew pale, his teeth chattered, and his hair stood erect; but on approaching to Darlington his fears subsided, and they soon arrived in safety at the sign of the Black Bear.

Formerly, it was the custom of travellers to rest on the Sunday, and for the landlords of inns, on that day, to invite all their guests to a family dinner. Frank and his companion having take up their quarters for the Sunday at the above inn, sat down to a public dinner with the other guests, among whom there was a Scotchman of hardy features and athletic figure. Frank had been early prejudiced against Scotsmen by the stories of his nurse, and he regarded him with a settled dislike; but the shrewd remarks, ready answers, and confidently-delivered opinions of the Scotsman, Mr. Campbell, gave him no small importance on the present occasion. A quarrel having taken place about politics, the dispute was referred to and settled by Ms. Campbell over another bottle, and then the company separated.

Next day Frank pursued his journey, and was delighted with the fine diversified scenes that everywhere met his view till he came in sight of Osbaldistone Hall, a huge antique castle, surrounded by stately oaks. He was only at a short distance from the mansion, when the blast of a French horn was heard, and a pack of fox-hounds crossed the road, followed by the hunters. Frank drew up his horse to let them pass without interruption, and had an opportunity of examining the whole group, which consisted of five young men and a very handsome female, all well mounted and well dressed. In passing, the lady's horse started out of the course, and Frank hastened to offer his services; but there was no occasion, for she easily brought the animal to order, and gallopped off. Frank followed her, and soon heard the signal of the fox's death; but the young lady, on reaching her companions, drew their attention towards Frank, and requested one of her cousins to speak to him. However, as the young man declined it, she rode up to Frank, and inquired, if, in the course of his travels, he had met with a Mr. Francis Osbaldistone; whom they expected at the Hall.

On Frank acknowledging himself to be the person, the lady informed him that her name was Diana Vernon, a relation of his uncle's, and then introduced him to Squire Thorncliffe