t
being capable of tracing those sources of enjoyment which the spirit
absorbs from the beauties of external nature, has yet enough of
uneducated taste and feeling within him, to partake of the varied feast
which she presents.

As he sauntered thus leisurely along he was met by a woman rather
advanced in years, but still unusually stout and muscular, considering
her age. She was habited in a red woollen petticoat that reached but
a short distance below the knee, leaving visible two stout legs, from
which dangled a pair of red garters that bound up her coarse blue hose.
Her gown of blue worsted was pinned up, for it did not meet around her
person, though it sat closely about her neck. Her grizzly red hair,
turned up in front, was bound by a dowd cap without any border, a
circumstance which, in addition to a red kerchief, tied over it, and
streaming about nine inches down the back, gave to her _tout ensemble_
a wild and striking expression. A short oaken staff, hooked under the
hand, completed the description of her costume. Even on a first glance
there appeared to be something repulsive in her features, which had
evidently been much exposed to sun and storm. By a closer inspection one
might detect upon their hard angular outline, a character of cruelty and
intrepidity. Though her large cheek-bones stood widely asunder, yet her
gray piercing eyes were very near each other; her nose was short and
sadly disfigured by a scar that ran tranversely across it, and her chin,
though pointed, was also deficient in length. Altogether, her whole
person had something peculiar and marked about it--so much so, indeed,
that it was impossible to meet her without feeling she was a female of
no ordinary character and habits.

Lamh Laudher had been, as we have said, advancing slowly along the
craggy road which led towards the town, when she issued from an
adjoining cabin and approached him. The moment he noticed her he stood
still, as if to let her pass and uttered one single exclamation of
chagrin and anger.

"_Ma shaughth milia mollach ort, a calliagh!_ My seven thousand curses
on you for an old hag," said he, and haying thus given vent to his
indignation at her appearance, he began to retrace his steps as if
unwilling to meet her.

"The son of your father needn't lay the curse upon us so bitterly all
out, Lamh Laudher!" she exclaimed, pacing at the same time with vigorous
steps until she overtook him.

The young man looked at her m