and day or night I wad hae served them wi' my best blood; and now, I think they shew mair regard to the common thief of Westburnflat than to their own kinsman. But I should see the lights now in Heughfoot—Waes me!" he continued, recollecting himself, "there will neither coal nor candle-light shine in the Heughfoot ony mair! An' it were na for my mother and sisters, and poor Grace, I could find in my heart to put spurs to the beast, and loup ower the scaur into the water to make an end o't a'."—In this disconsolate mood, he turned his horse's bridle toward the cottage in which his family had found refuge.
As he approached the door, he heard whispering and tittering amongst his sisters. "The devil's in the women," said poor Hobbie; "they would nicker, and laugh, and giggle, if their best friend was lying a corp—and yet I am glad they can keep up their hearts sae weel, poor silly things; but the dirdum fa's on me, to be sure, and no on them."
While he thus meditated, he was enga-
