two short coughs expressed the difficulty she had in defending herself.
"I am sure—my leddy—hem, hem!—I am sure I am sorry—very sorry that ony cause of displeasure should hae occurred—but my son's illness"—
"Dinna tell me of your son's illness, Mause! Had he been sincerely unweel, ye would ha'e been at the Tower wi' day-light to get something that wad do him gude; there are few ailments that I have na medical recipes for, and that ye ken fu' weel."
"O ay, my leddy! I am sure ye hae wrought wonderfu' cures; the last thing ye sent Cuddie when he had the batts, e'en wrought like a charm."
"Why, then, woman, did ye not apply to me, if there was ony real need?—But there was none, ye fause-hearted vassal that ye are!"
"Your leddyship never ca'd me sic a word as that before. Ohon! that I suld
