Page:Walter Scott - The Monastery (Henry Frowde, 1912).djvu/89

RV 21 (Rh) 'Aye, aye, madam,' said Martin, 'God keep the kindly Scot from the cloth-yard shaft, and he will keep himself from the handy stroke. But let us go our way; the trash that is left I can come back for. There is nae ane to stir it but the good neighbours, and they'

'For the love of God, goodman,' said his wife, in a remonstrating tone, 'hand your peace! Think what ye're saying, and we hae sae muckle wild land to go over before we win to the girth gate.'



The husband nodded acquiescence; for it was deemed highly imprudent to speak of the fairies, either by their title of good neighbours or by any other, especially when about to pass the places which they were supposed to haunt.$n$

They set forward on their pilgrimage on the last day of October. 'This is thy birthday, my sweet Mary,' said the mother, as a sting of bitter recollection crossed her mind. 'Oh, who could have believed that the head, which, a few years since, was cradled amongst so many rejoicing friends, may perhaps this night seek a cover in vain!'

The exiled family then set forward,—Mary Avenel, a