'There's been mony a moonlight watch to bring a' that trade thegither,' continued Meg; 'the folk that are to eat that dinner thought little o' your game laws.' 'Is that all ?' thought Sampson, resuming his spoon and shovelling away manfully; 'I will not lack my food upon that argument.' 'Now ye maun tak a dram ?' 'I will,' quoth Sampson, 'conjuro te--that is, I thank you heartily,' for he thought to himself, in for a penny in for a pound; and he fairly drank the witch's health in a cupful of brandy.

When he had put this copestone upon Meg's good cheer, he felt, as he said, 'mightily elevated, and afraid of no evil which could befall unto him.' 'Will ye remember my errand now ?' said Meg Merrilies; 'I ken by the cast o' your ee that ye're anither man than when you cam in.' 'I will, Mrs.Margaret,' repeated Sampson, stoutly; 'I will deliver unto him the sealed epistle, and will add what you please to send by word of mouth.' 'Then I'll make it short,' says Meg.

'Tell him to look at the stars without fail this night, and to do what I desire him in that letter, as he would wish That Bertram's right and Bertram's might Should meet on Ellangowan height.
I have seen him twice when he saw na me; I ken when he was in this country first, and I ken what's brought him back again.

Up an' to the gate! ye're ower lang here; follow me.' Sampson followed the sibyl accordingly, who guided him about a quarter of a mile through the woods, by a shorter cut than he could have found for himself; then they entered upon the common, Meg still marching before him at a great pace, until she gained the top of a small hillock which overhung the road.
'Here,' she said, 'stand still here.

Look how the setting sun breaks through yon cloud that's been darkening the lift a' day.