midnight
The character of the Lady Isabella was formed ; that of her brother , a child of eight , of course was not ; and the deep , voiceless suffering her father 's loss occasioned her individually was painfully heightened by the idea that to her young brother his death was an infinitely greater misfortune than to herself . He indeed knew not , felt not the agony which bound her ; he knew not the void which was on her soul ; how utterly , unspeakably lonely that heart had become , accustomed as it had been to repose its every thought , and hope , and wish , and feeling on a parent 's love ; yet notwithstanding this , her clear mind felt and saw that while for herself there was little fear that she should waver in those principles so carefully instilled , for her brother there was much , very much to dread . She did not and could not repose confidence in her kinsman ; for her parent 's sake she struggled to prevent dislike , to compel belief that the suavity , even kindness of his manner , the sentiments which he expressed , had their foundation in sincerity ; but when her young brother became solely and entirely subject to his influence , she could no longer resist the conviction that their guardian was not the fittest person for the formation of a patriot . She could not , she would not believe the rumor which had once , but once , reached her ears , uniting the hitherto pure line of Macduff with midnight murder ; her own noble mind rejected the idea as a thing utterly and wholly impossible , the more so perhaps , as she knew her father had been latterly subject to an insidious disease , baffling all the leech 's art , and which he himself had often warned her would terminate suddenly ; yet still an inward shuddering would cross her heart at times , when in his presence ; she could not define the cause , or why she felt it sometimes and not always , and so she sought to subdue it , but she sought in vain . Meanwhile an event approached materially connected with the Lady Isabella , and whose consummation the late Thane of Fife had earnestly prayed he might have been permitted to hallow with his blessing . Alexander Comyn , Earl of Buchan and High Constable of Scotland , had been from early youth the brother in arms and dearest friend of the Earl of Fife , and in the romantic enthusiasm which ever characterized the companionship of chivalry , they had exchanged a mutual vow that in after years , should heaven grant them children , a yet nearer and dearer tie should unite their houses . The birth of Isabella , two years after that of an heir to Buchan , was hailed with increased delight by both fathers , and from her earliest years she was accustomed to look to the Lord John as her future husband .