It was awa' upo' the borders o' Wales, like as
gien folk ower there i' Perth war doobtfu' whether sic or sic a
place was i' the hielan's or the lowlan's. The maister o' the hoose
was a yoong man awa' upo' 's traivels, I kenna whaur--somewhaur upo'
the continent, but that's a mickle word; an' as he had the intention
o' bein' awa' for some time to come, no carin' to settle doon aff
han' an' luik efter his ain, there was but ane gey auld wuman to
hoosekeep, an' me to help her, an' a man or twa aboot the place to
luik efter the gairden--an' that was a'. Hoose an' gairden was to
let, an' was intil the han's o' ane o' thae agents, as they ca'
them, for that same purpose--to let, that is, for a term o' years.
Weel, ae day there cam a gentleman to luik at the place, an' he was
sae weel pleased wi' 't--as weel he micht, for eh, it was a bonny
place!--aye lauchin' like, whaur this place is aye i' the
sulks!--na, no aye! I dinna mean that, my lady, forgettin' at it's
yours!--but ye maun own it taks a heap o' sun to gar this auld hoose
here luik onything but some dour--an' I beg yer pardon, my lady!"
"You are quite right, mistress Brookes!" said Arctura with a smile.
"If it were not for you it would be dour dour.--You do not know, Mr.
Grant--mistress Brookes herself does not know how much I owe her! I
should have gone out of my mind for very dreariness a hundred times
but for her.
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