the ground. Of the money she spoke more tragically.

"It's blood money!" said she; "I take it for that: blood money for

the betrayed! See what I'm brought down to! Ah, if the bonnie lad

were back again, it would be changed days. But he's deid - he's

lyin' deid amang the Hieland hills - the bonnie lad, the bonnie

lad!"

She had a rapt manner of crying on the bonnie lad, clasping her

hands and casting up her eyes, that I think she must have learned

of strolling players; and I thought her sorrow very much of an

affectation, and that she dwelled upon the business because her

shame was now all she had to be proud of. I will not say I did not

pity her, but it was a loathing pity at the best; and her last

change of manner wiped it out. This was when she had had enough of

me for an audience, and had set her name at last to the receipt.

"There!" says she, and taking the most unwomanly oaths upon her

tongue, bade me begone and carry it to the Judas who had sent me.

It was the first time I had heard the name applied to Mr. Henry; I

was staggered besides at her sudden vehemence of word and manner,

and got forth from the room, under this shower of curses, like a

beaten dog. But even then I was not quit, for the vixen threw up

her window, and, leaning forth, continued to revile me as I went up

the wynd; the freetraders, coming to the tavern door, joined in the

mockery, and one had even the inhumanity to set upon me a very

savage small dog, which bit me in the ankle. This was a strong

lesson, had I required one, to avoid ill company; and I rode home

in much pain from the bite and considerable indignation of mind.

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