* * Note I.Elspeth's death.
Edie ran to support her, but hardly got her in his arms, before he said, "It's a' ower--she has passed away even with that last word." "Impossible," said Oldbuck, hastily advancing, as did his nephew.

But nothing was more certain.

She had expired with the last hurried word that left her lips; and all that remained before them were the mortal relics of the creature who had so long struggled with an internal sense of concealed guilt, joined to all the distresses of age and poverty.
"God grant that she be gane to a better place!" said Edie, as he looked on the lifeless body; "but oh! there was something lying hard and heavy at her heart.

I have seen mony a ane dee, baith in the field o' battle, and a fair-strae death at hame; but I wad rather see them a' ower again, as sic a fearfu' flitting as hers!" "We must call in the neighbours," said Oldbuck, when he had somewhat recovered his horror and astonishment, "and give warning of this additional calamity.

I wish she could have been brought to a confession.
And, though of far less consequence, I could have wished to transcribe that metrical fragment.