Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series - 1819.djvu/44

34 between the lovers, by effecting Lucy's union with Bucklaw. Far more deeply skilled than her husband in the recesses of the human heart, she was aware, that in this way she might strike a blow of deep and decisive vengeance upon one, whom she esteemed as her mortal enemy; nor did she hesitate at raising her arm, although she knew that the wound must be dealt through the bosom of her daughter. With this stern and fixed purpose, she sounded every depth and shallow of her daughter's soul, assumed alternately every disguise of manner which could serve her purpose, and prepared at leisure every species of dire machinery, by which the human mind can be wrenched from its settled purpose. Some of these were of an obvious description, and require only to be cursorily mentioned; others were characteristic of the time, the country, and the persons engaged in this singular drama.

It was of the last consequence, that all intercourse betwixt the lovers should be