I recollected her perfectly; and though she had in former times been no favourite of mine, her name now sounded in my ear like that of a friend, and was the first word I had heard somewhat in unison with the associations around me.

I sallied from Castle Treddles, determined to make the best of my way to Duntarkin, and my cicerone hung by me for a little way, giving loose to his love of talking--an opportunity which, situated as he was, the seneschal of a deserted castle, was not likely to occur frequently.
"Some folk think," said my companion, "that Mr.Treddles might as weel have put my wife as Christie Steele into the Treddles Arms; for Christie had been aye in service, and never in the public line, and so it's like she is ganging back in the world, as I hear.

Now, my wife had keepit a victualling office." "That would have been an advantage, certainly," I replied.
"But I am no sure that I wad ha' looten Eppie take it, if they had put it in her offer." "That's a different consideration." "Ony way, I wadna ha' liked to have offended Mr.Treddles.He was a wee toustie when you rubbed him again the hair; but a kind, weel-meaning man." I wanted to get rid of this species of chat, and finding myself near the entrance of a footpath which made a short cut to Duntarkin, I put half a crown into my guide's hand, bade him good-evening, and plunged into the woods.
"Hout, sir--fie, sir--no from the like of you.

Stay, sir, ye wunna find the way that gate .-- Odd's mercy, he maun ken the gate as weel as I do mysel'.

Weel, I wad like to ken wha the chield is." Such were the last words of my guide's drowsy, uninteresting tone of voice and glad to be rid of him, I strode out stoutly, in despite of large stones, briers, and BAD STEPS, which abounded in the road I had chosen.