"Sandy, ye manna gang yoursel to the auld birkie's wi' this letter the day," said Mactaggart to his boy; " gif ony neebour frae the neist town come belive, ye can gi' him it, for I canna mysel nae mair gar ye gang , as I hae mony a time gar'd ye gang dancing like a cotter's wean , wha maun rin half breathless wharever the gentry o'er the muir wad send them, an' nae their ain servants; as the auld St. Clyde the ither day sent wee Davie Grahame: his egg has ay twa youks , Sandy my man; an ye ken ill workers are ay gude to-putters. "

When it came to Suter Willie's turn to dance, he could not dance; he had always been worse than rickety; but Willie had been in Fife, and he would tell them a story he was sure "nobody had ever heard in his ain native place." It was this-- "Allan Mann had a muckle dog, and that dog used to go to the niest town, and carry the siller in his teeth and buy the beef, and bring it hame by ae nook; but ae day the butchers' dogs set upon auld Cowley, for Allan ca'd the beast Cowley; an' so ye see, twa dogs brought sax mair , a' butchers' collies and bull dogs; and so ye see , puir auld Cowley gat the warst o't , and lost the beef, and was sair bitet about the lugs and een : and so ye see , Cowley was sae shamed o' the thing, that he wad na come into the house, but gade and graened i' the barn a' that day; and whan Allan ken'd whare puir Cowley was hidet , he brought him his meat, and did sae for nine days; but Cowley did not eat but ae unco wee pickle o't a' that time: and so you see, on the tenth day, Cowley gaed awa', an' brought five ither guid stout collies, and awa' to the hole whare Cowley hid the meat; and Cowley gie the collies a' the meat, and tauld them in his ain language how he had been worried, and cowpit , and dadet by the butchers' dogs in yon town; and how, gif the collies wad gang wi' him and set up a colly shangy , a' the butchers' dogs wad come out, and then they shud a' set on them and worrie them waur than they worried Cowley: and so ye see, Cowley and his comrades gaed awa' to the neist town, and leathered them weel i' the caputs and spaulds , sae that the butchers thought the warison their brutes ware gating was nathing but a' the dogs and collies i' the country gaen wud ; till they saw Cowley and thought about the beef; and how their ain dogs teuk it frae him; and the butchers then let their ain dogs tak what Cowley's collies and himsel could gie them: and so ye see, whan Cowley and his collies beat them a' , Cowley neist day cam to his maister for the siller for the beef; and frae that day to this, he has gane to the butcher's for Allan's beef; and the butchers' dogs growl, but neer ane o' them will meddle wi' him."

The dominie gave alms, not because he was richer than his brethren, and more independent than those who received his alms, but it was following the example of a great personage to give alms, and pray; and though a "goupen-fow of meal would never be missed, there was nae kenning wha might be a hallan-shaker , things might a' gang to the dog-driving; the bit and the brat was nae denied the raven o' the sky: his duds might na be as braw's the breeks o' his forebearis; but it was better to live on a little, than to hear bodies as ane passed them by, saying, 'Look, man, di' ye see that, chiel ; there's nae breard like midding breard .'" And with all his faults, the dominie was a sober man, a good man, a great scholar, and the best companion at a merry-making that ever lived.

Sandy was bidden to sit down, and thus he began; "The young lady Ellen, Heaven keep her frae the death her father dee'd, gae me some o' the auld laird's clais . Poor Sauney Glass is just as wise as the Lord made him; but he kens main than folks thinks o'; and the death o' the guid laird, his guid friend, gae him unco muckle trouble, and he hoppit the reekless murderer wad be found out; he thought the finger o' God wad yet be pointed at whaever whippet a string round the neck o' the poor laird; and so he did a' he could to find out the murderer as weel as ither bodies , and he thought he had maist done it; but gif the minister did na' tak tent , they micht nae get him mony a day yet."

Sandy Glass acted as valet to the honest fellow Macbean, first bringing him a large pail-full of water for his feet, then running to the minister:
"Ho! sir, I winna ye gi' Maister Macbean a pair of stockings, and your auld breeks , an' the waistcoat ye had on when he skelpit down on his bair knees for a blessing, when the braw lads a' gaed away, an' an auld coat. I ken ye've ane ; Mr. Macbean dis na hae a red coat now; na , na , he's nae the sider roi ; an he'll, nae doubt, be glad to put on a coat o' the holy claith ."
"Yes, yes, Sandy; take my excuse to the sergeant for not welcoming him, and go an take them to him."
"Here, Mr. Macbean, here's clais for ye ; a pair o' gude stockings specket a' owr like a paitrycke 's egg; an' a breeks , the vera ains the minister had on when ye gat his blessing; aye! and here's a waistcoat, and here's a coat; an' ye can say, ye were ainse drest in holy clais ."

"Ohon! I'm a peur man; this is ware then the worst battle we e'er fought; dinna , dinna , dinna baith make yoursells like weans ; ye're baith begruttin eneugh already," said the sergeant.
"And Norah's dead! and she died of grief! O, cruel fates! O God! why am I alive till this hour!" uttered Colin in the most bitter anguish.
"Aha! Sauney, my man," said Macbean, "an' it's you, an' ye're aye living, an' up with lavrock ; ye've risen this morning to put your foot on the worm."
"The laird! the laird!" cried Glass, as he advanced bowing, "the young laird living and greeting! What ails ye , Colin dear? Jesu drive his grief awa ; he's dead, an' she's dead, an' Norah's dead; an' we thought ye ware first dead; they a' teld me ye were hagget in collops by naked savages; an' Jesu! Jesu! Jesu! be thanket ye're here now--

"Aye, hantle o' fatigue," cried Macbean, "to be walking, and fochting , and crossing the seas, and drouket through an' through wi' rain, an' blinded wi' levin , an' maist deaf wi' thunder; but what's a' that to this news? The auld laird dead, and his gude wife, and the Lady Norah dead-- Ohon! this is the warst morning o' a' poor Macbean's days.--O my captain! my peur captain! gang , gang , let us be gaen to the manse; the guid man gae me his benison; and the Lady Ellen's there; dinna stop here; come, let us be gaen ."

"Ohon! I'm a peur man; this is ware then the worst battle we e'er fought; dinna , dinna , dinna baith make yoursells like weans ; ye're baith begruttin eneugh already," said the sergeant.
"And Norah's dead! and she died of grief! O, cruel fates! O God! why am I alive till this hour!" uttered Colin in the most bitter anguish.
"Aha! Sauney, my man," said Macbean, "an' it's you, an' ye're aye living, an' up with lavrock ; ye've risen this morning to put your foot on the worm."
"The laird! the laird!" cried Glass, as he advanced bowing, "the young laird living and greeting! What ails ye , Colin dear? Jesu drive his grief awa ; he's dead, an' she's dead, an' Norah's dead; an' we thought ye ware first dead; they a' teld me ye were hagget in collops by naked savages; an' Jesu! Jesu! Jesu! be thanket ye're here now--

Whether Bess, who was a philosopher in the article of courtship, was, as she approached the fauld, reasoning prospectively on the good luck that attends the marriage-state when folks strive to do their best, and leave Heaven to make out the rest; or whether she was praying to Heaven, as, being in the minister's house, Bess was reckoned unco guid , that the virtuous Willie and she might be permitted, " gif it war ordained, to buckle to;" or whether she was preaching economy to herself on the "maist thrifty lad having a carefu' wife to store his aumrie and the hallan;" or whether she was enquiring into the wants of wedlock, "healsome, clean ware, a heart to guide his winnings with all her canny care, a flock of lambs, cheese, butter, meal and woo, and lots o' weans;" or whether she was reproaching herself for not encouraging Willie in his suit, and trembling lest his heart should grow cold, and his smiles and honeyed lips she'd lose, and "perchance anither lass the heartsome heartstrung name of Willie's wife should bear;" is only to be learned from the subsequent conduct of this wily girl; but sure it is, she came up with lightsome heel, unclouded brow, and coyly cheerful, love-beguiling face, and heaving breasts that showed at least a panting heart now freed of that negative laxity which delights to torture and sacrifice the victim of a cruel burning love.
But by this time Willie's head reclined considerably forward, and his chin rested on his breast-bone, and his eyes met the ground but a pace from his foot; and as Bess came to the gate, whether the animal had heard her footsteps, or nature had been sated with dosing and dreamings, Willie's dog sprang to the gate, and barked the bark of "welcome;" for Bess he knew, and loved her for his master's sake; whatever was the cause, Bess screamed softly, and Willie sprang to the gate, fleet as the buck to meet his doe; but Bess exclaimed, "I darena stay."
How the gate was opened, or by what movement Willie and she seated themselves on the stone, Levingstone could not perceive; for the celerity with which both were performed, was so rapid, as to bid defiance to examination; but certain it was, that though the cause had vanished, the agents of that cause, and its effect on those agents, were now fit objects of minute attention to Levingstone.
Willie and Bess are seated.-- " Ye wad na gang frae me, Bess, as soon ye've cam ."-- "I winna be alane wi' ye , Willie." --"For aught I hear or see, we twa are e'en alane , my dawtie Bess."-- "Fie, Willie, lad, ye manna prie my mow again," --"My ain dawtie , thy breath is sweeter than the sweetest brier, my dawtie 's cheeks excel the rose; my bonny Bess, gif I could fancy aught 's sae sweet and fair as your twa bonny arching breasts, mair white than ony lily, mair ripe than ony berries our glens can yield, an' a' the fruits that hang upon the trees are nae sae ripe, sae sweet, my dawtie Bess, as thou ."-- " Ye're havering , Willie, let me gang ; ye ken lambs should tremble when the foxes preach; ye joker, ye may change your sang , and gif I tent a word o' loo , ye'll ablings make me thole the wrang ."
"Gif now, my dawtie , ye'd believe, I hae for you mair than a mither 's fondness for her bairn , ye wad sit smiling on my knee; I'll wrang ye nane , my heart I'll never change; the burn sall rin up oure the glen, the fawing sun braw Ettrick woods sall cease to tint we goud , the diamonds frae the lifts be tane , the spring, the summer, an' the hairst shall be ae lang winter oure , afore that ought by me be said or doon to skaith my loo for Bess; my dawtie , gif ye haud me true, I'se tak my aith by mair than a' aboon ; I'm stown , I canna change, ye need nae fear."
"Rise, Willie; gif I could ony answer gi' , but dinna haud me in your grips , ye'll gar my heart rin out at baith my een ." -- "O! dawtie Bess, my vera saul is lowping to my lips."-- "Fie, Willie, fie, what gars ye aye gae wod wi' kissing." --"My heart is flightering fain for ae wee word o' comfort frae my dawtie ."-- "Willie, I dinna ken what's come oure me, but I canna --" --" Dinna greet , my bonny dawtie , dinna greet ."-- "O, Willie! gif I thought ye wad prove true, may be my heart might loo thee lang without a flaw." --" Eneugh , my bonny Bess; I see your rowing een can tell the truth o' what ye hae now tald ; my heart is glee , I'm dizzy, I'm downright dizzy wi' the thought; in troth, I'm like to greet ; I lang nae tint my power; ye'se hang nae langer on the tree; I'll spier the minister's leave afore it's lang , and sine ye'll be my ain , Bess."

And when St. Clyde mentioned the search and capture of Lerwick, by Whiggans and his people, and commented on the strict secrecy with which the whole had been kept, Whiggans turned this also off, by asking if "Mr. Levingstone had not promised to obey his wishes", and when this was answered in the affirmative, the outlaw expressed a strong wish that "dustie fute" might yet be taken .
St. Clyde was at a loss to assign a meaning to the outlaw's wish, for he did not recollect that "dustie fute" was equivalent to "pedler;" yet he forbore to question Whiggans, and tacitly yet correctly applied the epithet to Lerwick.

"Bess,--Bess," he could not think what Bess was meant; but wandering solitary, some two days after this lesson had been tendered Willie, Levingstone espied the minister's servant-girl coming from a neighbouring house, and sure enough she was the Bess; for like a greyhound Willie sprang from behind a high turf dyke that formed one flank of the fauld, and Levingstone espied Bess in the arms of Willie in a trice; and the words of this modest girl's mouth were, "O Willie! let me gang ; I thought ye war mair blate ; I manna stay." -- "Dear Bess! let me speak to ye ." -- "Na , na, Willie, that winna do; I'm nae obliged to saunter here wi' you! I ne'er had ony thoughts to tint my heart. "-- "Ah! Bess, wha kens but ye may rue an' pity me; ye ne'er can wall a man that looes ye mair wi' true downright love." -- "And if I ne'er should, nae man my heart can move; ilk lad's alike to me; I am happy and leal frae e'en to morn, and gif ye ken'd it, sae are ye ; an' baith had best take tent , and frae the either keep a' daffin an' sugar'd words, an' ne'er mint a breath about what nane but fools rant, clish-maclaver --poor fools, wha tent their power within four wa's, an' gather mirky clouds abun their heads, an' at their feet a skirling bairn to gar them drudge frae morning to the gloamin , an frae the gloamin till the sin rise over the lawn."
Willie said little, but he plied her hard with kisses, and the torrent of pleasure he felt in being allowed to snatch them with a delicate resistance, fired his blood: and Bess, with all her stoicism, seemed by the attitude she threw herself in,--her fine breasts resting on Willie's bosom, and her longing eyes now and then stealing a glance of his, whilst there seemed to be no more words to ease her heart, and as if tied by the arms of Willie entwined around her waist, and her kisses warm in the place of vows,--Bess, we say, seemed as if her heart, now softer grown, half-yielded consent to the love-sick, faithful Willie.
But she contrived to get out of his innocent embrace, and scolded him as " nae blate to tak sic a liberty wi' her on the open lawn, whar mair e'en than what looked frae the lifts might see them: ne'er do't again, Willie; ye ne'er sall hae your will; ye ne'er sall mak me lead a puir feightan life o' Willie's wife:-- na , na ; ye'll ne'er mak muckle o' me wi' unco fraise , an' daut me afore fouk ; an' as soon as your new-fangleness is gane , instead o' sweet delyte , 'cause ye tint your freedom for my sake, gang to wastefu ' barliehoods , and sine be driven frae house an' hald ; na , na, Willie."
Bess at length got out of Willie's clutches; and Levingstone hardly knew which to admire most, the assiduities of Willie, or the stifled attachment of Bess, who blushed through vanity rather than shame.

Whether Bess, who was a philosopher in the article of courtship, was, as she approached the fauld, reasoning prospectively on the good luck that attends the marriage-state when folks strive to do their best, and leave Heaven to make out the rest; or whether she was praying to Heaven, as, being in the minister's house, Bess was reckoned unco guid , that the virtuous Willie and she might be permitted, " gif it war ordained, to buckle to;" or whether she was preaching economy to herself on the "maist thrifty lad having a carefu' wife to store his aumrie and the hallan;" or whether she was enquiring into the wants of wedlock, "healsome, clean ware, a heart to guide his winnings with all her canny care, a flock of lambs, cheese, butter, meal and woo, and lots o' weans;" or whether she was reproaching herself for not encouraging Willie in his suit, and trembling lest his heart should grow cold, and his smiles and honeyed lips she'd lose, and "perchance anither lass the heartsome heartstrung name of Willie's wife should bear;" is only to be learned from the subsequent conduct of this wily girl; but sure it is, she came up with lightsome heel, unclouded brow, and coyly cheerful, love-beguiling face, and heaving breasts that showed at least a panting heart now freed of that negative laxity which delights to torture and sacrifice the victim of a cruel burning love.
But by this time Willie's head reclined considerably forward, and his chin rested on his breast-bone, and his eyes met the ground but a pace from his foot; and as Bess came to the gate, whether the animal had heard her footsteps, or nature had been sated with dosing and dreamings, Willie's dog sprang to the gate, and barked the bark of "welcome;" for Bess he knew, and loved her for his master's sake; whatever was the cause, Bess screamed softly, and Willie sprang to the gate, fleet as the buck to meet his doe; but Bess exclaimed, "I darena stay."
How the gate was opened, or by what movement Willie and she seated themselves on the stone, Levingstone could not perceive; for the celerity with which both were performed, was so rapid, as to bid defiance to examination; but certain it was, that though the cause had vanished, the agents of that cause, and its effect on those agents, were now fit objects of minute attention to Levingstone.
Willie and Bess are seated.-- " Ye wad na gang frae me, Bess, as soon ye've cam ."-- "I winna be alane wi' ye , Willie." --"For aught I hear or see, we twa are e'en alane , my dawtie Bess."-- "Fie, Willie, lad, ye manna prie my mow again," --"My ain dawtie , thy breath is sweeter than the sweetest brier, my dawtie 's cheeks excel the rose; my bonny Bess, gif I could fancy aught 's sae sweet and fair as your twa bonny arching breasts, mair white than ony lily, mair ripe than ony berries our glens can yield, an' a' the fruits that hang upon the trees are nae sae ripe, sae sweet, my dawtie Bess, as thou ."-- " Ye're havering , Willie, let me gang ; ye ken lambs should tremble when the foxes preach; ye joker, ye may change your sang , and gif I tent a word o' loo , ye'll ablings make me thole the wrang ."
"Gif now, my dawtie , ye'd believe, I hae for you mair than a mither 's fondness for her bairn , ye wad sit smiling on my knee; I'll wrang ye nane , my heart I'll never change; the burn sall rin up oure the glen, the fawing sun braw Ettrick woods sall cease to tint we goud , the diamonds frae the lifts be tane , the spring, the summer, an' the hairst shall be ae lang winter oure , afore that ought by me be said or doon to skaith my loo for Bess; my dawtie , gif ye haud me true, I'se tak my aith by mair than a' aboon ; I'm stown , I canna change, ye need nae fear."
"Rise, Willie; gif I could ony answer gi' , but dinna haud me in your grips , ye'll gar my heart rin out at baith my een ." -- "O! dawtie Bess, my vera saul is lowping to my lips."-- "Fie, Willie, fie, what gars ye aye gae wod wi' kissing." --"My heart is flightering fain for ae wee word o' comfort frae my dawtie ."-- "Willie, I dinna ken what's come oure me, but I canna --" --" Dinna greet , my bonny dawtie , dinna greet ."-- "O, Willie! gif I thought ye wad prove true, may be my heart might loo thee lang without a flaw." --" Eneugh , my bonny Bess; I see your rowing een can tell the truth o' what ye hae now tald ; my heart is glee , I'm dizzy, I'm downright dizzy wi' the thought; in troth, I'm like to greet ; I lang nae tint my power; ye'se hang nae langer on the tree; I'll spier the minister's leave afore it's lang , and sine ye'll be my ain , Bess."

Levingstone in the frequent rambles he took among the hills and glens, the woods and muirs, discovered on the summit of one glen the watch-house of a shepherd; and observing that this was the constant rendezvous of two young shepherds, he deemed it no uninteresting sport to conceal himself with a book in his hand, in a large but curiously-grown furze brake that sheltered the watch-house, and there as an eaves'-dropper to observe their manoeuvres, and listen to their chit-chat. The conversation of these youths turned on Willie's attachment to Bess; and Wattie having rallied him on his "daft dreams and heavy heart," Willie frankly confessed, that as "Bess ne'er looked upon him wi' a blithesome smile, but gart him look blate wi' her jeers, though he could na' but looe her, he wad na' tint his bluid , the disdain o' Bess he tholed , wad fetch him to his cauld grave soon eneugh ."
Wattie advised Willie to "leave aff that silly whining way: wha can help misluck ? ne'er fash your thumb wi' sic a thrawin , gabbett chuck : dinna tint your hope, man; but whan ye're glowring about, gif ye see her linkan oure the muir wi' her coats kiltet , and her straught bare legs far whiter than the snaw , and her haffet locks waving oure her ruddy cheeks, loup oure the dyke, and seem as gif ye had forgathered wi' her by mischance; an' gif she misca ' ye at the first, do ye but laugh, and clasp your arms about her neck and waist, and haud her fast in your grips, and sine tak a fouth o' sweetest kisses frae her glowing mow ; an' I'se warrant ye , Willie, gif she hae ony saul at a' 'twill come lowping to her lips; and though she flite wi' ye atween the smacks , dinna ye think she means as she'll speak; and gif she lower her bonny face wi' gloom, do you say her mow's like ony hinney , and gif she winna change her mood, ye'll gang clean wod , an' oure the craig ye'll tak the lowp ; but tent the language o' her een ."
Willie promised to obey; and as the youths left the hut "to fauld their sheep," Levingstone was content to go home to the manse, filled with many reflections on the gallantry of Wattie.

Levingstone in the frequent rambles he took among the hills and glens, the woods and muirs, discovered on the summit of one glen the watch-house of a shepherd; and observing that this was the constant rendezvous of two young shepherds, he deemed it no uninteresting sport to conceal himself with a book in his hand, in a large but curiously-grown furze brake that sheltered the watch-house, and there as an eaves'-dropper to observe their manoeuvres, and listen to their chit-chat. The conversation of these youths turned on Willie's attachment to Bess; and Wattie having rallied him on his "daft dreams and heavy heart," Willie frankly confessed, that as "Bess ne'er looked upon him wi' a blithesome smile, but gart him look blate wi' her jeers, though he could na' but looe her, he wad na' tint his bluid , the disdain o' Bess he tholed , wad fetch him to his cauld grave soon eneugh ."
Wattie advised Willie to "leave aff that silly whining way: wha can help misluck ? ne'er fash your thumb wi' sic a thrawin , gabbett chuck : dinna tint your hope, man; but whan ye're glowring about, gif ye see her linkan oure the muir wi' her coats kiltet , and her straught bare legs far whiter than the snaw , and her haffet locks waving oure her ruddy cheeks, loup oure the dyke, and seem as gif ye had forgathered wi' her by mischance; an' gif she misca ' ye at the first, do ye but laugh, and clasp your arms about her neck and waist, and haud her fast in your grips, and sine tak a fouth o' sweetest kisses frae her glowing mow ; an' I'se warrant ye , Willie, gif she hae ony saul at a' 'twill come lowping to her lips; and though she flite wi' ye atween the smacks , dinna ye think she means as she'll speak; and gif she lower her bonny face wi' gloom, do you say her mow's like ony hinney , and gif she winna change her mood, ye'll gang clean wod , an' oure the craig ye'll tak the lowp ; but tent the language o' her een ."
Willie promised to obey; and as the youths left the hut "to fauld their sheep," Levingstone was content to go home to the manse, filled with many reflections on the gallantry of Wattie.

"Bess,--Bess," he could not think what Bess was meant; but wandering solitary, some two days after this lesson had been tendered Willie, Levingstone espied the minister's servant-girl coming from a neighbouring house, and sure enough she was the Bess; for like a greyhound Willie sprang from behind a high turf dyke that formed one flank of the fauld, and Levingstone espied Bess in the arms of Willie in a trice; and the words of this modest girl's mouth were, "O Willie! let me gang ; I thought ye war mair blate ; I manna stay." -- "Dear Bess! let me speak to ye ." -- "Na , na, Willie, that winna do; I'm nae obliged to saunter here wi' you! I ne'er had ony thoughts to tint my heart. "-- "Ah! Bess, wha kens but ye may rue an' pity me; ye ne'er can wall a man that looes ye mair wi' true downright love." -- "And if I ne'er should, nae man my heart can move; ilk lad's alike to me; I am happy and leal frae e'en to morn, and gif ye ken'd it, sae are ye ; an' baith had best take tent , and frae the either keep a' daffin an' sugar'd words, an' ne'er mint a breath about what nane but fools rant, clish-maclaver --poor fools, wha tent their power within four wa's, an' gather mirky clouds abun their heads, an' at their feet a skirling bairn to gar them drudge frae morning to the gloamin , an frae the gloamin till the sin rise over the lawn."
Willie said little, but he plied her hard with kisses, and the torrent of pleasure he felt in being allowed to snatch them with a delicate resistance, fired his blood: and Bess, with all her stoicism, seemed by the attitude she threw herself in,--her fine breasts resting on Willie's bosom, and her longing eyes now and then stealing a glance of his, whilst there seemed to be no more words to ease her heart, and as if tied by the arms of Willie entwined around her waist, and her kisses warm in the place of vows,--Bess, we say, seemed as if her heart, now softer grown, half-yielded consent to the love-sick, faithful Willie.
But she contrived to get out of his innocent embrace, and scolded him as " nae blate to tak sic a liberty wi' her on the open lawn, whar mair e'en than what looked frae the lifts might see them: ne'er do't again, Willie; ye ne'er sall hae your will; ye ne'er sall mak me lead a puir feightan life o' Willie's wife:-- na , na ; ye'll ne'er mak muckle o' me wi' unco fraise , an' daut me afore fouk ; an' as soon as your new-fangleness is gane , instead o' sweet delyte , 'cause ye tint your freedom for my sake, gang to wastefu ' barliehoods , and sine be driven frae house an' hald ; na , na, Willie."
Bess at length got out of Willie's clutches; and Levingstone hardly knew which to admire most, the assiduities of Willie, or the stifled attachment of Bess, who blushed through vanity rather than shame.

Whether Bess, who was a philosopher in the article of courtship, was, as she approached the fauld, reasoning prospectively on the good luck that attends the marriage-state when folks strive to do their best, and leave Heaven to make out the rest; or whether she was praying to Heaven, as, being in the minister's house, Bess was reckoned unco guid , that the virtuous Willie and she might be permitted, " gif it war ordained, to buckle to;" or whether she was preaching economy to herself on the "maist thrifty lad having a carefu' wife to store his aumrie and the hallan;" or whether she was enquiring into the wants of wedlock, "healsome, clean ware, a heart to guide his winnings with all her canny care, a flock of lambs, cheese, butter, meal and woo, and lots o' weans;" or whether she was reproaching herself for not encouraging Willie in his suit, and trembling lest his heart should grow cold, and his smiles and honeyed lips she'd lose, and "perchance anither lass the heartsome heartstrung name of Willie's wife should bear;" is only to be learned from the subsequent conduct of this wily girl; but sure it is, she came up with lightsome heel, unclouded brow, and coyly cheerful, love-beguiling face, and heaving breasts that showed at least a panting heart now freed of that negative laxity which delights to torture and sacrifice the victim of a cruel burning love.
But by this time Willie's head reclined considerably forward, and his chin rested on his breast-bone, and his eyes met the ground but a pace from his foot; and as Bess came to the gate, whether the animal had heard her footsteps, or nature had been sated with dosing and dreamings, Willie's dog sprang to the gate, and barked the bark of "welcome;" for Bess he knew, and loved her for his master's sake; whatever was the cause, Bess screamed softly, and Willie sprang to the gate, fleet as the buck to meet his doe; but Bess exclaimed, "I darena stay."
How the gate was opened, or by what movement Willie and she seated themselves on the stone, Levingstone could not perceive; for the celerity with which both were performed, was so rapid, as to bid defiance to examination; but certain it was, that though the cause had vanished, the agents of that cause, and its effect on those agents, were now fit objects of minute attention to Levingstone.
Willie and Bess are seated.-- " Ye wad na gang frae me, Bess, as soon ye've cam ."-- "I winna be alane wi' ye , Willie." --"For aught I hear or see, we twa are e'en alane , my dawtie Bess."-- "Fie, Willie, lad, ye manna prie my mow again," --"My ain dawtie , thy breath is sweeter than the sweetest brier, my dawtie 's cheeks excel the rose; my bonny Bess, gif I could fancy aught 's sae sweet and fair as your twa bonny arching breasts, mair white than ony lily, mair ripe than ony berries our glens can yield, an' a' the fruits that hang upon the trees are nae sae ripe, sae sweet, my dawtie Bess, as thou ."-- " Ye're havering , Willie, let me gang ; ye ken lambs should tremble when the foxes preach; ye joker, ye may change your sang , and gif I tent a word o' loo , ye'll ablings make me thole the wrang ."
"Gif now, my dawtie , ye'd believe, I hae for you mair than a mither 's fondness for her bairn , ye wad sit smiling on my knee; I'll wrang ye nane , my heart I'll never change; the burn sall rin up oure the glen, the fawing sun braw Ettrick woods sall cease to tint we goud , the diamonds frae the lifts be tane , the spring, the summer, an' the hairst shall be ae lang winter oure , afore that ought by me be said or doon to skaith my loo for Bess; my dawtie , gif ye haud me true, I'se tak my aith by mair than a' aboon ; I'm stown , I canna change, ye need nae fear."
"Rise, Willie; gif I could ony answer gi' , but dinna haud me in your grips , ye'll gar my heart rin out at baith my een ." -- "O! dawtie Bess, my vera saul is lowping to my lips."-- "Fie, Willie, fie, what gars ye aye gae wod wi' kissing." --"My heart is flightering fain for ae wee word o' comfort frae my dawtie ."-- "Willie, I dinna ken what's come oure me, but I canna --" --" Dinna greet , my bonny dawtie , dinna greet ."-- "O, Willie! gif I thought ye wad prove true, may be my heart might loo thee lang without a flaw." --" Eneugh , my bonny Bess; I see your rowing een can tell the truth o' what ye hae now tald ; my heart is glee , I'm dizzy, I'm downright dizzy wi' the thought; in troth, I'm like to greet ; I lang nae tint my power; ye'se hang nae langer on the tree; I'll spier the minister's leave afore it's lang , and sine ye'll be my ain , Bess."