He tried his hand at ghostly advice, probably for the first time in his life, and recommended as an opiate for the agonised conscience of the Laird, reparation of the injuries he had done to these distressed families, which, he observed by the way, the civil law called _restitutio in integrum._ But Mammon was struggling with Remorse for retaining his place in a bosom he had so long possessed; and he partly succeeded, as an old tyrant proves often too strong for his insurgent rebels.
"I canna do't," he answered, with a voice of despair.

"It would kill me to do't--how can ye bid me pay back siller, when ye ken how I want it?
or dispone Beersheba, when it lies sae weel into my ain plaid-nuik?
Nature made Dumbiedikes and Beersheba to be ae man's land--She did, by Nichil, it wad kill me to part them." "But ye maun die whether or no, Laird," said Mr.Novit; "and maybe ye wad die easier--it's but trying.

I'll scroll the disposition in nae time." "Dinna speak o't, sir," replied Dumbiedikes, "or I'll fling the stoup at your head .-- But, Jock, lad, ye see how the warld warstles wi' me on my deathbed--be kind to the puir creatures, the Deanses and the Butlers--be kind to them, Jock.

Dinna let the warld get a grip o' ye, Jock--but keep the gear thegither! and whate'er ye do, dispone Beersheba at no rate.

Let the creatures stay at a moderate mailing, and hae bite and soup; it will maybe be the better wi' your father whare he's gaun, lad." After these contradictory instructions, the Laird felt his mind so much at ease, that he drank three bumpers of brandy continuously, and "soughed awa," as Jenny expressed it, in an attempt to sing "Deil stick the Minister." His death made a revolution in favour of the distressed families.