John Dumbie, now of Dumbiedikes, in his own right, seemed to be close and selfish enough, but wanted the grasping spirit and active mind of his father; and his guardian happened to agree with him in opinion, that his father's dying recommendation should be attended to.

The tenants, therefore, were not actually turned out of doors among the snow-wreaths, and were allowed wherewith to procure butter-milk and peas-bannocks, which they ate under the full force of the original malediction.

The cottage of Deans, called Woodend, was not very distant from that at Beersheba.

Formerly there had been but little intercourse between the families.

Deans was a sturdy Scotsman, with all sort of prejudices against the southern, and the spawn of the southern.