And what could I say to her, but that she behoved to come and speak to Mr.Saddletree when he was at hame?
It wasna that I thought Mr.Saddletree could do her or ony ither body muckle good or ill, but it wad aye serve to keep the puir thing's heart up for a wee while; and let sorrow come when sorrow maun." "Ye're mistaen though, gudewife," said Saddletree scornfully, "for I could hae gien her great satisfaction; I could hae proved to her that her sister was indicted upon the statute saxteen hundred and ninety, chapter one--For the mair ready prevention of child-murder--for concealing her pregnancy, and giving no account of the child which she had borne." "I hope," said Butler,--"I trust in a gracious God, that she can clear herself." "And sae do I, Mr.Butler," replied Mrs.Saddletree.

"I am sure I wad hae answered for her as my ain daughter; but wae's my heart, I had been tender a' the simmer, and scarce ower the door o' my room for twal weeks.
And as for Mr.Saddletree, he might be in a lying-in hospital, and ne'er find out what the women cam there for.

Sae I could see little or naething o' her, or I wad hae had the truth o' her situation out o' her, I'se warrant ye--But we a' think her sister maun be able to speak something to clear her." "The haill Parliament House," said Saddletree, "was speaking o' naething else, till this job o' Porteous's put it out o' head--It's a beautiful point of presumptive murder, and there's been nane like it in the Justiciar Court since the case of Luckie Smith the howdie, that suffered in the year saxteen hundred and seventy-nine." "But what's the matter wi' you, Mr.Butler ?" said the good woman; "ye are looking as white as a sheet; will ye tak a dram ?" "By no means," said Butler, compelling himself to speak.

"I walked in from Dumfries yesterday, and this is a warm day." "Sit down," said Mrs.Saddletree, laying hands on him kindly, "and rest ye--yell kill yoursell, man, at that rate .-- And are we to wish you joy o' getting the scule, Mr.Butler ?" "Yes--no--I do not know," answered the young man vaguely.

But Mrs.
Saddletree kept him to point, partly out of real interest, partly from curiosity.
"Ye dinna ken whether ye are to get the free scule o' Dumfries or no, after hinging on and teaching it a' the simmer ?" "No, Mrs.Saddletree--I am not to have it," replied Butler, more collectedly.