Miss Helen tauld me her ain sel that the earl was greatly set upon her marriage, for the captain gaed to Edinburg just to tell him o't.

And he wrote her word that his lordship wished him no to bide a single day, but to marry Miss Helen and tak her awa'.

She'd never hae done it, in my opinion, but for that.

For the captain was at her ilka day an a' day lang, looking like a ghaist, and telling' her he couldna live without her--she's a tender heart, Miss Helen--and she was sae awfu' vexed for him, ye ken.

For, sure, Malcolm, the captain did seem almost like deein'." "Deein'!" cried Malcolm, contemptuously, and then stopped.