It's hun'ers o' years auld, that ballant, I s' warran'." "It's beautiful," said Ginevra, with decision and dignity.

"I hope he married the lady, and they lived happy ever after." "I dinna ken, mem.

The man 'at made the ballant, I daursay, thoucht him weel payed gien the bonny leddy said thank ye till him." "Oh! but, Donal, that wouldn't be enough!--Would it, Nicie ?" "Weel, ye see, missie," answered Nicie, "he but gae her three kisses--that wasna sae muckle to wur (lay out) upon a body." "But a serpent!--a serpent's mouth, Nicie!" Here, unhappily, Donal had to rush through the burn without leave-taking, for Hornie was attempting a trespass; and the two girls, thinking it was time to go home, rose, and climbed to the house at their leisure.
The rest of the day Ginevra talked of little else than the serpent lady and the brave knight, saying now and then what a nice boy that Donal of Nicie's was.

Nor was more than the gentlest hint necessary to make Nicie remark, the next morning, that perhaps, if they went down again to the Lorrie, Donal might come, and bring the book.

But when they reached the bank and looked across, they saw him occupied with Gibbie.