There's things aboot mony an auld hoose, maister Grant, 'at'll tak
the day o' judgment to explain them. But sae lang as they keep to
their ain side o' the wa', I dinna see I need trible my heid aboot
them. Efter the experrience I had as a yoong lass, awa' doon in
Englan' yon'er, at a place my auntie got me intil--for she kenned a
heap o' gran' fowk throuw bein' hersel' sae near conneckit wi' them
as hoosekeeper i' the castel here--efter that, I'm sayin,' I wadna
need to be that easy scaret?"
"What was it?" said lady Arctura. "I don't think you ever told me."
"No, my dear lady; I wud never hae thocht o' tellin' ye ony sic
story sae lang as ye was ower yoong no to be frichtit at it; for
'deed I think they're muckle to blame 'at tells bairns the varra
things they're no fit to hear, an' fix the dreid 'afore the sense.
But I s' tell ye the noo, gien ye care to hear. It's a some awsome
story, but there's something unco fulish-like intil't as weel. I
canna say I think muckle 'o craturs 'at trible their heids aboot
their heids!--But that's tellin' 'aforehan'!"
Here the good woman paused thoughtful.
"I am longing to hear your story, mistress Brookes," said Donal,
supposing she needed encouragement.
"I'm but thinkin' hoo to begin," she returned, "sae as to gie ye a
richt haud o' the thing.--I'm thinkin' I canna do better nor jist
tell 't as it cam to mysel'!--Weel, ye see, I was but a yoong lass,
aboot--weel, I micht be twenty, mair or less, whan I gaed til the
place I speak o'.
Pages:
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459