This was responded to by one much louder from within, and almost immediately the door was softly opened.

From thence issued another female figure, evidently that of Nanse M'Collum, her niece.

Both passed down the street in a northern direction, and Lamh Laudher, apprehensive that they were on no good errand, took off his shoes, lest his footsteps might be heard, and dogged them as they went along.

They spoke little, and that in whispers, until they had got clear of the town, when, feeling less restraint, the following dialogue occurred to them:-- "Isn't it a quare thing, aunt, that she should come back to this place at all ?" "Quare enough, but the husband's comin' too--he's to folly her." "He ought to know that he needn't come here, I think." "Why, you fool, how do you know that?
Sure the town must pay him fifty guineas, if he doesn't get a customer, and that's worth comin' for.

She must be near us by this time.