The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

66o The Highland Monthly
With a cry, Elspeth sprang to her feet, in her haste
scattering the precious coins over the floor of the hut. The
flood—ah ! the flood ! Where would she have been but
for Miss Flora's helping-hand, when she was in the grasp of
those terrible waters ? Dead ! None fear death more than
those who play tricks upon their fellow-beings in name of
its terrors. Elspeth trembled at the thought. Dead ! and
strange mood was this that had seized
the devil's !
upon her?
What
Ding ! She listened again ; but Tammas had, at last,
fulfilled his mournful duty. The sun had also changed
its light, for it was temporarily hid under a bank of cloud.
Looking down, Elspeth perceived the gold, and at the
sight of its glitter, the crazy brain resumed its vagaries.
Once more she handled the coins fondly, muttering the
while such words as these :— " Hech, hech, they wad hae
been ten times mair had I gi'en him the cure ; but na, na,
Fse no part wi' that ; it maun only be the Witch who can
make folk dee and live agin."
CHAPTER XIII.
THE PROFESSOR REVEALS HIS HAND.
When Richard reached Edinburgh, he lost no time in^
obtaining at the Post-Office the letter of direction to his
whereabouts, which the Professor had promised should be
waiting him. He was seriously anxious not so much to see
Miss Somerton as her father. Anxiety had, for the time,,
blunted the edge of his love passion—anxiety as to the
results of administering the Professor's anti-love powder to
Flora. Now that the critical step had been taken, he
wished to be assured again that the effects of the drug, or
whatever it might be, would, at least, not be to endanger
the lady's life. His conscience still troubled him, argue
as he liked, that a stranger, and a kindly-intentioned
gentleman such as Professor Somerton appeared to be„