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 yoursel in no rash adventures—for your's was aye ower venturesome a race, and muckle harm they got by it."

"But I am sure, my good friend, you would not have me be afraid of going to an open moor in broad day-light?"

"I dinna ken—I wad never bid son or friend o' mine had their hand back in a gude cause, whether it were a friend's or their ain that should be by nae bidding of mine, or of ony body that's come of a gentle kindred—But it winna gang out of a grey head like mine, that to gang to seek for evil that's no fashing wi' you, is clean against law and Scripture."

Earnscliff resigned an argument which he saw no prospect of maintaining with good effect, and the entrance of supper broke off the conversation. Miss Grace had by this time made her appearance, and Hobbie, not without a conscious glance at Earnscliff, placed himself by her side. Mirth and lively conversation, in which the old lady of the house took the good