blude?–and wha could tell whether the bonny knave-bairn may not come back to claim his ain?—wha durst buy the estate and the castle of Ellangowan?"
"Troth, gudewife, just ane o' thae writer chields that buys a' thing—they ca' him Glossin, I think."
"Glossin!—Gibbie Glossin!—that I have carried in my creels a hundred times, for his mother was na muckle better than mysell—he to presume to buy the barony of Ellangowan!—Gude be wi' us—it is an awfu' warld!—I wished him ill—but no sick a downfall as a' that neither—waes me! waes me to think o't!"—She remained a moment silent, but still opposing with her hand the farmer's retreat, who, betwixt every question, was about to turn his back, but good-humouredly stopped on observing the deep interest his answers appeared to excite.
"It will be seen and heard of—earth and sea will not hold their peace langer!—Can ye say if the same man be now the
