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 and the charge, though she's no a fee'd servant. She has been born and bred in the family, and has a' trust and management. If they were there, we behoved na to take sic freedom without their order; but when they are awa', they will be weel, pleased we serve a stranger gentleman. Miss Bellenden wad help a' the haill warld an' her power were as gude as her will; and her grandmother, Leddy Margaret, has an unco respect for the gentry, and she's no ill to the poor bodies neither—And now, wife, what for are ye no getting forrit wi' the sowens?"

"Never mind, lad," rejoined Jenny, "ye sall hae them in gude time; I ken weel that ye like your brose het."

Cuddie fidgetted, and laughed with a peculiar expression of intelligence at this repartee, which was followed by a dialogue of little consequence betwixt his wife and him, in which the stranger took no share. At length he suddenly interrupted them by the question—"Can you