Lady Glenarvan’s Proposal

           LadyHelenathoughtitbesttosaynothingtothechildrenaboutthefearsLordGlenarvanhadexpressedinhislettersrespectingthedecisionsoftheLordsoftheAdmiraltywithregardtothedocument.NordidshementiontheprobablecaptivityofCaptainGrantamongtheIndiansofSouthAmerica.Whysaddenthepoorchildren,anddamptheirnewlycherishedhopes?Itwouldnotintheleastaltertheactualstateofthecase;sonotawordwassaid,andafteransweringallMissGrant’squestions,LadyHelenabegantointerrogateinherturn,askingheraboutherpastlifeandherpresentcircumstances.

           Itwasatouching,simplestorysheheardinreply,andonewhichincreasedhersympathyfortheyounggirl.

           MaryandRobertwerethecaptain’sonlychildren.HarryGrantlosthiswifewhenRobertwasborn,andduringhislongvoyageshelefthislittleonesinchargeofhiscousin,agoodoldlady.CaptainGrantwasafearlesssailor.Henotonlythoroughlyunderstoodnavigation,butcommercealso—atwo-foldqualificationeminentlyusefultoskippersinthemerchantservice.HelivedinDundee,inPerthshire,Scotland.Hisfather,aministerofSt.Katrine’sChurch,hadgivenhimathorougheducation,ashebelievedthatcouldneverhurtanybody.

           Harry’svoyageswereprosperousfromthefirst,andafewyearsafterRobertwasborn,hefoundhimselfpossessedofaconsiderablefortune.

           ItwasthenthatheprojectedthegrandschemewhichmadehimpopularinScotland.LikeGlenarvan,andafewnoblefamiliesintheLowlands,hehadnoheartfortheunionwithEngland.InhiseyestheinterestsofhiscountrywerenotidentifiedwiththoseoftheAnglo-Saxons,andtogivescopeforpersonaldevelopment,heresolvedtofoundanimmenseScotchcolonyononeoftheoceancontinents.