The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

654
^^^ Highland Monthly.
ing, or whether he preferred to leave the honour here
suggested as it stood, rather than give an honest negative,
was not apparent ; but the query remained unanswered^
and he at once changed the direction of the conversation.
"Aye," he began, making another appeal to the snuffmull,
" I've had a verra solemn duty to perform this mornin'—
never solemner."
There was a general assent.
" Puir lassie, she must jist hae sleepit awa, withoot ae
struggle. Her maid—Miss Flora was an early riser— found
her tucked in, sleepin' profoundly, as she thocht. ' Its
half-past six. Miss Flora,' she said, gien her a shake.
There was nae response ; an' it struck her that when she
shook the body it was awfu' stiff. Wi' a thumping heart
she felt her cheek. It was as cauld as ice."
" Whom the gods love die young," said the school-
master, who had looked in on his way to work, and was
anxious to consult his fellow-parishioners as to the pro-
priety of giving his scholars a holiday.
" The ways of Providence are inscrutable," said the
junior elder, ever ready to hint to the dominie that his
classic lore bordered upon, if it was not actually, heretical.
" A sad point o' the matter," resumed the beadle, " is
that Master Richard went awa' to Edinburgh last nicht."
" Puir chap—he'll hae a sair hame-comin'. The Castle,
in fact, will never be like itsel' again," remarked the smith,,
little dreaming how true his words were destined to prove.
" Is it true the young laird has been seen of late more
in the company of the Professor's dochter than Miss
Flora's?" asked the schoolmaster.
" There's some gossip to that effeck," answered Peter
the shoemaker, who had the reputation for being the
scandalmongering member of the smith}' squad, as they
were termed.
" Let gossip alane on this solemn occasion," rebuked
the elder, "remember the ninth commandment."
" They've been seen thegither," persisted Peter.