Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/170

 window, an eight-day clock in a mahogany case. The backs of the chairs were of the same foreign wood, betokening no saving of expense; yet, upon the whole, all had a squalid and gloomy aspect.

Mrs MacClarty tossed down the bed to shew the fineness of the ticken, and the abundance of the blankets, which she took care to tell were all of her own spinning. She received the expected tribute of applause for her good housewifery, though Mrs Mason could not help observing to her, what a risk she ran of having it all lost for want of air. "See the proof of what I say," said she, "in that quantity of moths! they will soon leave you little to boast of your blankets."

"Moths!" repeated Mrs MacClarty, "there never was sic a sight o' moths as in this room; we are just eaten up wi' them, and I'm sure I kenna how they can win in, for no ae breath o'wind ever blew here!"

"That is just the thing that induces