tion? Do you know any thing of Quintin Mackell of Irongray?"
"Do I know whom?" echoed the blind woman, in a tone of great surprise and alarm.
"Quintin Mackell of Irongray," repeated Morton; "is there any thing so alarming in the sound of that name?"
"Na, na," answered the woman with hesitation," but to hear him asked after by a stranger and a soldier—Gude protect us, what mischief is to come next!"
"None by my means, I assure you," said Morton; "the subject of my enquiry has nothing to fear from me, if, as I suppose, this Quintin Mackell is the same with John Bal———"
"Do not mention his name," said the widow, pressing his lips with her fingers. "I see you have his secret and his password, and I'll be free wi' you. But, fer God's sake, speak lound and low. In the name of Heaven, I trust ye seek him not to his hurt.—Ye said ye were a soldier?"
