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out o' despised ordinances. O, lack a-day,my poor Tibby Hyslop! —my innocent, kind, thowless Tibby Hyslop! Now for the tod or the moorhen!"
Jane was frightened at hearing such a colloquy, but particularly at that part of it where her darling child was mentioned in such a way. she sprung from her own bed to that of her sister, and cried in her ear with a loud voice, "Sister, sister Douglas, what is that you are saying about our dear bairn?"
"Oogh? I was saying naething about your bairn. She is turned intill a spring-gun is she? or a man trap rather is it? I trow little whilk o' them it is, poor stupit creature. She lies in great jeopardy yonder; but nane as yet. Gang awa' to your bed—wow, but I was sound asleep."
"There's naebody can make ought out o' her but nonsense," said Jane as she went to put a few sticks and peat clods on the scarcely living embers. But after the two had risen from their scanty but happy breakfast, which Douglas had blessed with more fervency than ordinary, she could not settle at her carding, but always stopped short, and began mumbling & speaking to herself. At length, after a long pause, she looked over her shoulder, and said,—"Jeanie warna ye speaking o' ganging ower to see out
