regshoe

I'm back! Thanks everyone for the good wishes—all is now well. :)

This week's pair of chapters make a contrast with last week's—then we had two chapters running continuously together and all about Keith and Ewen interacting, this time we have two distinct episodes with each main character on his own. As sanguinity points out, I think this ultimately highlights the similarities between Keith and Ewen—we see both of them confronting less morally upstanding compatriots and holding firm to the principles of honour which they really have in common.

I think the interactions between Ewen and Lord Loudoun are particularly interesting. Their shared Highland identity, opposed sides in the war, historic clan enmity and the present imbalance of power from Ewen being Loudoun's prisoner all combine to create a complicated dynamic. Loudoun is apparently ready to believe Ewen's word over Greening's quite casually, and to emphasise his respect for Ewen in front of Greening and the other officers ('"Nor is Mr Cameron asleep now"')—was that all in service of his later underhand suggestions, or is there some real intra-Highland respect here? Ewen doesn't seem to think so, however, and I love his spirited attack on Loudoun, rout of Moy and all. (I also like him 'softly' calling Greening a '"pretty consummate scoundrel"').

Ewen is still not sure what to make of Keith! 'That he had personally attracted the English soldier would never have occurred to him.' —awww. But despite his lack of comprehension he does still appreciate the significance of that 'double blessing'.

'"My heart and my honour..."' —oh, Ewen, so earnestly loyal ;_;

I will confess that my favourite thing about chapter 5 is that Ewen didn't betray Lochiel after all—because, apparently, while most of his subconscious was dwelling on Lochiel's hiding place enough to reveal almost all the details in his sleep, part of it was still thinking about Keith and the night in the shieling instead. <3

Oh dear, being on the shelf is terribly bad for our Keith! His reaction against his own goodness, and his 'prudence', are really rather sad. Keith has good moral instincts, in his first spell in Inverness as well as in the reckless moment of trying to save Ewen, but he is far too ready to decide against listening to them when left to reflection in the midst of a culture like that of the British Army in Inverness.

...and yet, as soon as Ewen is in the picture again, Keith goes back to vehemently doing the right thing at the cost of his own dear ambition—and this time not in the heat of anger but in a cool, determined calmness which is really a rather funny contrast to Cumberland's temper tantrum (the line 'He stamped his royal foot' is an excellent Brosterism!). And at the end of it, facing 'the wreck of his ambitions', he is still thinking more of his own honour, and indeed he's 'glad to be rid of the prudence which had shackled him'. Good for him.

I shall express my agreement with the general anti-Guthrie sentiment here—it's especially egregious of him to keep being malicious to Keith after Keith has lost the staff position he was so jealous of in the first place!—and also with the appreciation for Captain Ferrers, in whom I wonder if we have a more positive example of a slightly effeminate male character than Greening?