have a pride of my own. It was by no will of mine that I came seeking

you; and if you show me your door again, I'll take you at the word."

He seemed grievously put out. "Hoots-toots," said he, "ca' cannie,

man--ca' cannie! Bide a day or two. I'm nae warlock, to find a fortune

for you in the bottom of a parritch bowl; but just you give me a day or

two, and say naething to naebody, and as sure as sure, I'll do the right

by you."

"Very well," said I, "enough said. If you want to help me, there's no

doubt but I'll be glad of it, and none but I'll be grateful."

It seemed to me (too soon, I dare say) that I was getting the upper

hand of my uncle; and I began next to say that I must have the bed and

bedclothes aired and put to sun-dry; for nothing would make me sleep in

such a pickle.

"Is this my house or yours?" said he, in his keen voice, and then all of

a sudden broke off. "Na, na," said he, "I didnae mean that. What's mine

is yours, Davie, my man, and what's yours is mine. Blood's thicker than

water; and there's naebody but you and me that ought the name." And

then on he rambled about the family, and its ancient greatness, and his

father that began to enlarge the house, and himself that stopped the

building as a sinful waste; and this put it in my head to give him

Jennet Clouston's message.

"The limmer!" he cried. "Twelve hunner and fifteen--that's every day

since I had the limmer rowpit!* Dod, David, I'll have her roasted on red

peats before I'm by with it! A witch--a proclaimed witch! I'll aff and

see the session clerk."

* Sold up.

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