CHAPTER XVIII.
It is not madness That I have utter'd, bring me to the test, And I the matter will re-word, which madness Would gambol from.
Hamlet.
As Mr.Sampson crossed the hall with a bewildered look, Mrs.Allan, the good housekeeper, who, with the reverent attention which is usually rendered to the clergy in Scotland, was on the watch for his return, sallied forth to meet him--'What's this o't now, Mr.Sampson, this is waur than ever! Ye'll really do yoursell some injury wi' these lang fasts; naething's sae hurtful to the stamach, Mr.Sampson.If ye would but put some peppermint draps in your pocket, or let Barnes cut ye a sandwich.' 'Avoid thee!' quoth the Dominie, his mind running still upon his interview with Meg Merrilies, and making for the dining-parlour.
'Na, ye needna gang in there, the cloth's been removed an hour syne, and the Colonel's at his wine; but just step into my room, I have a nice steak that the cook will do in a moment.' 'Exorciso te!' said Sampson; 'that is, I have dined.' 'Dined! it's impossible; wha can ye hae dined wi', you that gangs out nae gate ?' 'With Beelzebub, I believe,' said the minister.
'Na, then he's bewitched for certain,' said the housekeeper, letting go her hold; 'he's bewitched, or he's daft, and ony way the Colonel maun just guide him his ain gate.

Wae's me! Hech, sirs! It's a sair thing to see learning bring folk to this!' And with this compassionate ejaculation she retreated into her own premises.
The object of her commiseration had by this time entered the dining-parlour, where his appearance gave great surprise.

He was mud up to the shoulders, and the natural paleness of his hue was twice as cadaverous as usual, through terror, fatigue, and perturbation of mind.
'What on earth is the meaning of this, Mr.Sampson ?' said Mannering, who observed Miss Bertram looking much alarmed for her simple but attached friend.
'Exorciso,' said the Dominie.
'How, sir ?' replied the astonished Colonel.
'I crave pardon, honourable sir! but my wits---' 'Are gone a wool-gathering, I think; pray, Mr.Sampson, collect yourself, and let me know the meaning of all this.' Sampson was about to reply, but finding his Latin formula of exorcism still came most readily to his tongue, he prudently desisted from the attempt, and put the scrap of paper which he had received from the gipsy into Mannering's hand, who broke the seal and read it with surprise.
'This seems to be some jest,' he said, 'and a very dull one.' 'It came from no jesting person,' said Mr.Sampson.
'From whom then did it come ?' demanded Mannering.
The Dominie, who often displayed some delicacy of recollection in cases where Miss Bertram had an interest, remembered the painful circumstances connected with Meg Merrilies, looked at the young ladies, and remained silent.

'We will join you at the tea-table in an instant, Julia,' said the Colonel; 'I see that Mr.Sampson wishes to speak to me alone.

And now they are gone, what, in Heaven's name, Mr.Sampson, is the meaning of all this ?' 'It may be a message from Heaven,' said the Dominie, 'but it came by Beelzebub's postmistress.