The doctor never took up her trouble; and some said it was a fever.
At last she was roused out o't, but naebody ever saw her laugh after; and frae ane that was as cantie as a lintie, she became as douce as a Quaker, though she aye gaed cannily about her wark, as if amaist naething had happened.

If she was ony way light-headed before, to be sure she wasna that noo; but just what a decent quean should be, sitting for hours by the kitchen fire her lane, reading the Bible, and thinking, wha kens, of what wad become o' the wicked after they died; and so ye see"-- "What light is yon ?" said I, interrupting him, wishing him like to break off.
"Ou, it's just the light on some of the coal-hills.

The puir blackened creatures will be gaun down to their wark.

It's an unyearthly kind of trade, turning night intil day, and working like moudiewarts in the dark, when decent folks are in their beds sleeping .-- And so, as I was saying, ye see, it happened ae Sunday night that a chap cam to the back door; and the mistress too heard it.

She was sitting in the foreroom wi' her specs on, reading some sermon book; but it was the maid that answered.
"In a while thereafter, she rang her bell, being a curious body, and aye anxious to ken a' thing of her ain affairs, let alane her neighbours; so, after waiting a wee, she rang again,--and better rang; then lifting up her stick, for she was stiff with the rheumaticks and decay of nature, she hirpled into the kitchen,--but feint a hait saw she there, save the open Bible lying on the table, the cat streekit out before the fire, and the candle burning--the candle--na, I daur say I am wrang there, I believe it was a lamp, for she was a near ane.