' In the garden, however, he met
the old butler, who no longer attempted to conceal, that, having been
bred in the nursery line with Sumack & Co., of Newcastle, he sometimes
wrought a turn in the flower-borders to oblige the Laird and Miss Rose.
By a series of queries, Edward at length discovered, with a painful
feeling of surprise and shame, that Balmawhapple's submission and
apology had been the consequence of a rencontre with the Baron before
his guest had quitted his pillow, in which the younger combatant had
been disarmed and wounded in the sword-arm.
Greatly mortified at this information, Edward sought out his friendly
host, and anxiously expostulated with him upon the injustice he had done
him in anticipating his meeting with Mr. Falconer, a circumstance which,
considering his youth and the profession of arms which he had just
adopted, was capable of being represented much to his prejudice. The
Baron justified himself at greater length than I choose to repeat. He
urged that the quarrel was common to them, and that Balmawhapple could
not, by the code of honour, EVITE giving satisfaction to both, which he
had done in his case by an honourable meeting, and in that of Edward by
such a PALINODE as rendered the use of the sword unnecessary, and which,
being made and accepted, must necessarily SOPITE the whole affair.
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