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 ing the men; and Cuddie at the heels o' him, in ane o' Serjeant Bothwell's laced waistcoats, and a cockit hat with a bab o' blue ribbands at it, for the auld cause o' the Covenant, (but Cuddie aye liked a blue ribband) and a ruffled sark, like ony lord o' the land—it sets the like o' him, indeed!"

"Jenny," said her young mistress, hastily, "it is impossible these men's report can be true; my uncle has heard nothing of it at this instant."

"Because Tam Halliday," answered the handmaiden, "came in just five minutes after Lord Evandale; and when he heard his Lordship was in the Castle, he swore (the profane loon) he would be d—d ere he would make the report, as he ca'd it, of his news to Major Bellenden, since there was an officer of his ain regiment in the garrison. Sae he wad have said naething till Lord Evandale wakened the next morning; only he tauld me about it," (here Jenny looked a little down,) "just to vex me about Cuddie."