“The story,” said he, “is in its incidents not remarkable. My father was the parish schoolmaster of Kilravoch, of which Mr. Eglesham was the minister. We were the only two children in the village nearly on a footing with each other, for, although the difference in degree between the domine and the clergyman was, if I may say so, naturally wide, yet a legacy which my mother had received made the income of their respective families almost equal; for Kilravoch, as you probably know, was then one of the poorest stipends in the west of Scotland; indeed, perhaps, of the two, my father's means were the freest.

“Between Leezy and myself an early affection grew into passion, and when I received my Indian appointment, we agreed that as soon as I found myself justified by my circumstances to return, I should come back and marry her. In the sincerity of inexperienced youth, we pledged ourselves to each other, and we have faithfully kept our vow. But you will be surprised that it should never have been consummated, and that poor Leezy should be living in so humble a manner in obscurity at Glasgow, while I am in the enjoyment of so many more comforts; but you shall hear, for in that lies the romance of our lives.

“Soon after my arrival in India, a gradual prospect of wealth was suddenly opened to me, and, with sanguine hopes and unabated love, I wrote with delight of my situation to Leezy; but in that chance of fortune there was an insensible bane to the happiness of both.