e rather obliged to the old lord, I think," said Ravenswood.

"Was I? my sartie! first for bringing me into jeopardy, would I nould I,
and then for whomling a chield on the tap o' me that dang the very wind
out of my body? I hae been short-breathed ever since, and canna gang
twenty yards without peghing like a miller's aiver."

"You lost, then, your place as trumpeter?" said Ravenswood.

"Lost it! to be sure I lost it," replied the sexton, "for I couldna hae
played pew upon a dry hemlock; but I might hae dune weel eneugh, for
I keepit the wage and the free house, and little to do but play on the
fiddle to them, but for Allan, last Lord Ravenswood, that was far waur
than ever his father was."

"What," said the Master, "did my father--I mean, did his father's
son--this last Lord Ravenswood, deprive you of what the bounty of his
father allowed you?"

"Ay, troth did he," answered the old man; "for he loot his affairs gang
to the dogs, and let in this Sir William Ashton on us, that will gie
naething for naething, and just removed me and a' the puir creatures
that had bite and soup at the castle, and a hole to put our heads in,
when things were in the auld way."

"If Lord Ravenswood protected his people, my friend, while he had the
means of doing so, I think they might spare his memory," replied the
Master.

"Ye are welcome to your ain opinion, sir," said the sexton; "but ye
winna persuade me that he did his duty, either to himsell or to huz puir
dependent creatures, in guiding us the gate he has done; he might hae
gien us life-rent tacks of our bits o' houses and yards; and me, that's
an auld man, living in you miserable cabin, that's fitter for the dead
than the quick, and killed wi' rheumatise, and John Smith in my dainty
bit mailing, and his window glazen, and a' because Ravenswood guided his
gear like a fule!"

"It is but too true," said Ravenswood, conscience-struck; "the penalties
of extravagance extend far beyond the prodigal's own sufferings."
"However," said the sexton, "this young man Edgar is like to avenge my
wrangs on the haill of his kindred." "Indeed?" said Ravenswood; "why
should you suppose so?"

"They say he is about to marry the daughter of Leddy Ashton; and let her
leddyship get his head ance under her oxter, and see you if she winna
gie his neck a thraw. Sorra a bit, if I were him! Let her alane for
hauding a'thing in het water that draws near her. Sae the warst wish I
shall wish the lad is, t