ling merchant, that Rowley Overdees and Jock Penny suffered for at Carlisle twa year since. There's no ane in Bewcastle would do the like o' that now—we be a' true folk now."
"Aye, Tib, that will be when the deil's blind,—and his even's no sair yet. But hear ye, gudewife, I have been through maist feck o' Galloway and Dumfriesshire, and I have been round by Carlisle, and I was at the Staneshiebank fair the day, and I would like ill to be rubbit sae near hame, so I'll take the way."
"Hae ye been in Dumfries and Galloway?" said the old dame, who sate smoking by the fire side, and who had not yet spoke a word.
"Troth have I, gudewife, and a weary round I've had o't."
"Then ye'll maybe ken a place they ca' Ellangowan?"
"Ellangowan, that was Mr Bertram's?—I ken the place weel eneugh. The Laird died about a fortnight since, as I heard."
