14
merely paid her that visit to instruct her remembrance a little in that which was the truth, it being impossible, on account of his jottings, that he could be mistaken; and finally it was settled, for thus telling the truth, and nothing but the truth, Tibby Hyslop, a most deserving woman, was to receive a present of L.15, as wages, for time byegone. This was all managed in a very sly way by the cooper, who assured Forret that all should go right, as far as related to Tibby Hyslop and himself, which elated the farmer exceedingly, for the spirit of litigation had of late possessed him to such a degree, and he had ventured such a stake on this issue, that if he had been master of the realm, he would have parted with the half of it to beat his opponents.
The day of the trial arrived, and council attended from Edinburgh for both parties, to take full evidence before the two Circuit Lords and Sheriff. The evidence was said to have been unsatisfactory to the Judges, but upon the whole in Mr Forret's favour', the cooper's was decidedly so, and the farmer's counsel were crowing and bustling immoderately, when at length Tibdy Hyslop was called to the witness box. At the first sight of her master's council, and the Dumfries writers and notaries that were hanging
