Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/283

 uttered the name of her husband; and as she was too much weakened by sickness to struggle against the violence of her emotions, they produced an hysterical affection, which alarmed those about her for her life. Her life was however in no danger. Soon after being put to bed, she became quite composed; and then so strongly insisted upon being informed of every particular relative to her son, that Grizzy was compelled to give a faithful account of all she knew.

"Ye have thought," said she, "that your seein' Sandy while you were in the fever was but a dream; and Mrs Mason thinking it best that ye shou'd continue in the delusion, has never contradickit ye. But it was nae dream; our son was here the very day his father died; and ye saw him, and faintet awa' in his arms."

"Wharefor than did he leave me?" exclaimed the widow; "What for did he na stay to close his father's eyes, and