Page:Tales of my landlord (Volume 4).djvu/289

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
OLD MORTALITY.
281

that e'ening after the play when young Milnwood wan the popinjay; but I warned him off for that time."

"What," exclaimed Morton, "it was you that sate in your red cloak by the high-road, and told him there was a lion in the path?"

"In the name of heaven! wha are ye?" said the old woman, breaking off his narrative in astonishment. "But be wha ye may," she continued, resuming it with tranquillity, "ye can ken naething waur o' me than that I hae been willing to save the life o friend and foe."

"I know no ill of you, Mrs Maclure, and I mean no ill by you—I only wished to show that I know so much of this person's affairs, that I might be safely entrusted with the rest. Proceed, if you, please, in your narrative."

"There is a strange command in your voice," said the blind woman, "though its tones are sweet. I have little mair to say. The Stuarts hae been dethroned,