But that was not a'," continued the beldam, her earthly and evil passions rekindling as she became heated in her narration--"that was not a'; I hated Miss Eveline Neville for her ain sake, I brought her frae England, and, during our whole journey, she gecked and scorned at my northern speech and habit, as her southland leddies and kimmers had done at the boarding-school, as they cald it"-- (and, strange as it may seem, she spoke of an affront offered by a heedless school-girl without intention, with a degree of inveteracy which, at such a distance of time, a mortal offence would neither have authorized or excited in any well-constituted mind)--"Yes, she scorned and jested at me--but let them that scorn the tartan fear the dirk!" She paused, and then went on--"But I deny not that I hated her mair than she deserved.

My mistress, the Countess, persevered and said, Elspeth Cheyne, this unruly boy will marry with the false English blood.
Were days as they have been, I could throw her into the Massymore* of Glenallan, and fetter him in the Keep of Strathbonnel.
* Massa-mora, an ancient name for a dungeon, derived from the Moorish language, perhaps as far back as the time of the Crusades.
But these times are past, and the authority which the nobles of the land should exercise is delegated to quibbling lawyers and their baser dependants.

Hear me, Elspeth Cheyne! if you are your father's daughter as I am mine, I will find means that they shall not marry.

She walks often to that cliff that overhangs your dwelling to look for her lover's boat--( ye may remember the pleasure ye then took on the sea, my Lord)--let him find her forty fathom lower than he expects!'-- Yes! ye may stare and frown and clench your hand; but, as sure as I am to face the only Being I ever feared--and, oh that I had feared him mair!--these were your mother's words.

What avails it to me to lie to you ?--But I wadna consent to stain my hand with blood .-- Then she said, By the religion of our holy Church they are ower sibb thegither.