Non vi sed scepe cadendo was a favorite word of his; and
no doubt this quiet persecution wore away much of her re-
solve ; no doubt, besides, he had a great influence on the girl,
having stood in the place of both her parents; and for that
matter, she was herself filled with the spirit of the Duries,
and would have gone a great way for the glory of Durris-
deer; but not so far, I think, as to marry my poor patron,
had it not been (strangely enough) for the circumstance of
his extreme unpopularity.
This was the work of Tarn Macmorland. There was not
much harm in Tam ; but he had that grievous weakness, a
long tongue ; and as the only man in that country who had
been out (or rather who had come in again) he was sure of
listeners. Those that have the underhand in any fighting,
I have observed, are ever anxious to persuade themselves
they were betrayed. By Tarn's, account of it, the rebels had
been betrayed at every turn and by every officer they had ;
they had been betrayed at Derby, and betrayed at Falkirk;
the night march was a step of treachery of my Lord
George's; and CuUoden was lost by the treachery of the



Xl?e /faster of Ballaijtrae 17

Macdonalds. This habit of imputing treason grew upon
the fool, till at last he must have in Mr. Henry also. Mr.
