the scene that opened on our hero in edinburgh was altogether new, and in a variety of other respects highly interesting, especially to one of his disposition of mind. to use an expression of his own, he “found himself suddenly translated from the veriest shades of life,” into the presence, and indeed into the society, of a number of persons previously known to him by report as of the highest distinction in his country. from those men of letters in general his reception was particularly flattering. and they interested themselves collectively and individually in the cultivation of his genius.
in edinburgh literature and fashionable society are a good deal mixed. our bard was an acceptable guest in the gayest and most elevated circles, and received from female beauty and elegance those flattering attentions above all others most grateful to him. a taste for letters is not always conjoined with habits of temperance and regularity, and edinburgh at this period contained perhaps an uncommon proportion of men of considerable talents, devoted to social excesses, in which their talents were wasted and debased.
[154]
robert entered into several parties of this description with his usual vehemence. his generous affections, his ardent eloquence, his brilliant and daring imagination fitted him to be the idol of such associations. the sudden alteration of his habits of life operated on him physically as well as morally. the humble fare of the ayrshire peasant he had exchanged for the luxuries of the scottish metropolis, and naturally the effect of this change could not be inconsiderable. he saw the danger, and at times formed resolutions to guard against it, but he had embarked on the tide of dissipation and was borne along its stream. some six months after his triumphant entrance into the city he had returned to mossgiel for a fleeting visit to his home, and to assist his brother, who had taken upon himself the entire support of their aged mother, and who was struggling with many difficulties on the farm of mossgiel. it will easily be conceived with what pleasure and pride he was received by his mother, his sisters, and brothers. he had left them poor and friendless; he returned to them high in public estimation and easy circumstances. he returned to them unchanged in his ardent affections, and ready to share with them to the uttermost farthing the pittance that fortune had bestowed. he had been keenly disappointed not to find mary there. he learned, to his sorrow, that she had gone back to the highlands shortly after he left for edinburgh. he felt that she was[155] lost to him now forever, for, while his heart prompted him to hurry to her side, reason told him that the visit would but fill her cup of sorrow to the brim. for, believing as he did, that he was still bound to jean in spite of the destruction of her marriage lines, he knew he would only have to part from her again, to leave her there with her sad thoughts, her loneliness, while he returned to the gay life, where it was so easy to forget or at least to still the voice of sorrow. having remained with them a few days he proceeded again to edinburgh, first stopping off at mauchline to call at the home of squire armour, only to be met with curses and to be driven from the door by the stern, unyielding man.
robert returned to edinburgh, his heart filled with bitterness and sorrow. for a while he brooded over his troubles, which threatened to plunge him into a state of extreme melancholy. but at last resentment and anger crowded out all other thoughts, and it was not long before he succeeded in drowning recollection in the midst of the society and dissipation of the metropolis.
a year passed by, during which time he had vainly tried to get word to jean armour. he had heard that she had given birth to twins, and the thought that they were without the protection of a father’s name filled him with grief and remorse. time and again he had written her, only to have his letters returned unopened. finally he had received a letter[156] from her father, stating that “the children were dead and that jean had quite forgotten him, and was about to be joined in wedlock with a neighboring rich farmer; that now he hoped robert would leave him and his daughter in peace,” etc., etc. he laid down the letter with a thrill of joy stirring his blood. free at last! he had done his duty as a man of honor, and now, after all the bitter heartache and the long separation, he was free to marry his little sweetheart. “oh, thank god!” he cried aloud, in an ecstasy of joy. “thank god, the miserable tangle in our lives will soon be straightened.” he had long entertained a desire to visit those parts of his native country which were so celebrated in the rural songs of scotland, and he would now gratify that desire with mary’s home as the objective point. as soon as arrangements could be made he started for the highlands on horseback, accompanied by a friend, one will nichol, and, his fame having preceded him, they were royally entertained on their journey through the country. finally they arrived in dornoch, where mary was living quietly with her sister, and soon the long parted lovers were clasped in each other’s arms. later that day he told her the glorious news of his release, his freedom from all ties, told her of his undying love, and swore that never again should they be parted in this life. and mary with a prayer of thankfulness in her faithful heart, blushingly gave her willing consent[157] to a speedy marriage. the next day they all returned by easy stages to edinburgh. mrs. dunlop, an old friend of robert’s, took the country maiden under her protecting wing and gave her a home until the marriage could be solemnized, the date having been set one month from the time of their arrival.
