290
and grand petticoats and stockings; and sic a sight o' mutches and laces as wou'd fill twa o' Miss Tweedy's shop! Ay, ay, the Niorisons will get it a', and a' her money forebye! They'll no be the fools to part wi' her that we ha' been; they're o'er cunning for that!"
Robert, who, in his treatment of Mrs Mason, had had no other end in view than the immediate gratification of his own bad temper, was enraged at this representation of the advantages which his neighbour's family were likely to derive from the event. Far, however, from acknowledging that he had been to blame, he insolently retorted on his mother, and poured on her a torrent of abuse. The poor woman attempted to speak in her own justification; but her voice was drowned in the louder and more vehement accents of her hopeful son. She had then no other resource but tears, and bitterly did she weep-bitterly did she lament. Her tears and lamentations aggravated the stings of con-
