ne smiled, in spite of herself, as McCray's arm was passed round her:
but her eyes filled with tears directly after, as she placed the child
upon a chair, and then went down upon her knees before it, kissing it
again and again.

"It was good, and kind, and thoughtful of you, Alexander," she said,
turning to the gardener; "and I know you've been having a hard battle
for me."

"Weel, lassie, he did want a deal o' pruning, certainly," said McCray.

"But I'm very--very grateful!" sobbed Jane, "for the poor child seems
all one has to live for now!"

"All, lassie?" said McCray, dryly.

"Well, no; not all," said Jane. "But I'm not worthy of you, and I never
ought to have made you the promise I did, for I can't love you as much
as you ought to be loved."

"Hoot, lassie!" cried McCray, kneeling by her side, and drawing her to
him, "gin ye try like that, I'm quite satisfied, for what more need a
man wush for, than for his couthie wee bodie to try and love him with
all her heart?"

Book 1, Chapter XXXIX.

MR CHUNT'S TOAST.

Mr Chunt presided over a good many discussions in his parlour, where
farmer and tradesman met to talk over the course of events during the
first few weeks. The subject of Lady Gernon's disappearance was tabooed
by general consent. It was not the first event of the kind that had
happened through badly-assorted marriages, and wouldn't be the last,
said the baker, sententiously; and then it was acknowledged by general
consent that money didn't make happiness, and that there was a deal of
wickedness in this world.

Upon another night Mr Chunt took to bewailing in public the injury done
to his trade, by the shutting up of the Castle.

"Looks a reg'lar devastation, gentlemen," he said; "things all in
holland, shutters closed, stables locked up, and all just as if it
didn't belong to nobody."

"Oh, Sir Murray will be back one of these days," said a small farmer,
cheerfully, "and then trade will brighten up again; meanwhile, you must
be contented with our custom, Chunt. He'll tire of foreign parts,
you'll see."

"Don't hear any likelihood of Mrs Norton going, I suppose?" said one.

"Not she, poor little woman; she even looks quite cheerful, and is
always out with that little boy of hers. Noble little chap he grows!"

"Ah!" said another, "he played his cards well, the Captain did. He
hadn't been gone long before there was two couples down to arrest him--
two parties, one after the other. Stopp