Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 4 - 1819.djvu/129

 the family of the Marquis, such was the high state maintained in those days, sate during service in another gallery, placed somewhat lower than that of the great man himself. This being the case, Captain Dalgetty ventured to ensconce himself in the gallery, of which he carefully secured the door.

Never (although the expression be a bold one) was a sermon listened to with more impatience, and less edification, on the part of one, at least, of the audience. The Captain heard sixteenthly—seventeenthly—eighteenthly, and to conclude, with a sort of feeling like protracted despair. But no man can lecture (for the service was called a lecture,) for ever, and the discourse was at length closed, the clergyman not failing to make a profound bow towards the latticed gallery, little suspecting whom he honoured by that reverence. To judge from the haste with which they dispersed, the domestics of the Marquis were scarce more pleased with their late occupation