their circumstances, that she was gradually led to converse upon such tragic and mystical subjects with the beldame, and to repose a sort of confidence in the sybil, whom she still regarded with involuntary shuddering. Dame Gourlay knew how to avail herself of this imperfect confidence. She directed Lucy's thoughts to the means of enquiring into futurity,—the surest mode, perhaps, of shaking the understanding and destroying the spirits. Omens were expounded, dreams were interpreted, and other tricks of jugglery perhaps resorted to, by which the pretended adepts of the period deceived and fascinated their deluded followers. I find it mentioned in the articles of dittay against Ailsie Gourlay, (for it is some comfort to think that the old hag was tried, condemned, and burned on the top of North-Berwick-Law, by sentence of a commission from the Privy Council)I find, I say, it was charged against her, among other offences, that she had, by the aid and delusions of
