he only dark cloud now in the
heavens; nevertheless, a slanting ray from the westering sun now falls
on its highest turret; look on, Sir, and say wherever have you seen a
grander object?"

The old gentleman uttered an impatient pish, and said, "Old man, your
travels must needs have lain in small compass, if you think much of yon
heap of stones and rubbish." The Laird's choler was rising, and he would
infallibly have told the stranger to have walked himself off, if Shanty
had not pulled him by the sleeve, and, stepping before the stranger,
said something in a soothing way, which should enhance the dignity of
the Tower and encourage the pretended purchaser.

"I must see it, I must see it," returned the old gentleman, "not as now
mixed up with the clouds, but I must examine it, see its capabilities,
and know precisely what it is worth, and how it can be secured to me and
my heirs for ever."

It was warm work which poor Shanty now had to do; between the irritated
seller and the testy buyer, he had never been in a hotter place before
his own forge, and there was wind enough stirring in all reason, without
help of bellows, for the Laird puffed and groaned and uttered half
sentences, and wished himself dead, on one side of the old blacksmith,
whilst the stranger went on as calmly, coolly, and deliberately, with
his bargain, on the other side, as if he were dealing with creatures
utterly without feeling. Shanty turned first to one, and then to
another; nodding and winking to Dymock to keep quiet on one side, whilst
he continued to vaunt the merits of the purchase on the other.

At length, on a somewhat more than usually testy remark of the stranger
reaching the ears of the Laird, he burst by Shanty and had already
uttered these words, "Let me hear no more of this, I am a gentleman, and
abominate the paltry consideration of pounds, shillings, and pence;"
when Shanty forcibly seizing his arm, turned him fairly round,
whispering, "Go, and for the sake of common sense, hold your tongue,
leave the matter to me, let me bargain for you; go and tell Mrs.
Margaret that we are coming, and make what tale you will to her, to
explain our unceremonious visit; you had better have told her
all before."

The Laird informed Shanty that there was no need of going up to the
Tower to inform his aunt, as she and Tamar were gone that day over the
border to visit a friend; but added he, "I take your offer, Shanty, make
the bargain for me if you