He left it not, however, without bestowing an additional gratuity on the old woman, who received it with a whining benediction.
"The Almighty guide your course through the troubles of this wicked warld--and the muckle deevil blaw wind in your sails," she added, in her natural tone, as the guests vanished from her miserable threshold.

"A wheen cork-headed, barmy-brained gowks! that wunna let puir folk sae muckle as die in quiet, wi' their sossings and their soopings."[II-10] "This poor creature's declaration," said Lord Etherington to Lady Penelope, "seems to refer to matters which the law has nothing to do with, and which, perhaps, as they seem to implicate the peace of a family of respectability, and the character of a young lady, we ought to enquire no farther after." "I differ from your lordship," said Lady Penelope; "I differ extremely--I suppose you guess whom her discourse touched upon ?" "Indeed, your ladyship does my acuteness too much honour." "Did she not mention a Christian name ?" said Lady Penelope; "your lordship is strangely dull this morning!" "A Christian name ?--No, none that I heard--yes, she said something about--a Catherine, I think it was." "Catherine!" answered the lady; "No, my lord, it was Clara--rather a rare name in this country, and belonging, I think, to a young lady of whom your lordship should know something, unless your evening flirtations with Lady Binks have blotted entirely out of your memory your morning visits to Shaws-Castle.

You are a bold man, my lord.

I would advise you to include Mrs.Blower among the objects of your attention, and then you will have maid, wife, and widow upon your list." "Upon my honour, your ladyship is too severe," said Lord Etherington; "you surround yourself every evening with all that is clever and accomplished among the people here, and then you ridicule a poor secluded monster, who dare not approach your charmed circle, because he seeks for some amusement elsewhere.

This is to tyrannize and not to reign--it is Turkish despotism!" "Ah! my lord, I know you well, my lord," said Lady Penelope--"Sorry would your lordship be, had you not power to render yourself welcome to any circle which you may please to approach." "That is to say," answered the lord, "you will pardon me if I intrude on your ladyship's coterie this evening ?" "There is no society which Lord Etherington can think of frequenting, where he will not be a welcome guest." "I will plead then at once my pardon and privilege this evening--And now," (speaking as if he had succeeded in establishing some confidence with her ladyship,) "what do you really think of this blind story ?" "O, I must believe it concerns Miss Mowbray.