The  artifice  succeeded ;  for  Mertoun,  on  coming
from  his  study,  no  sooner  saw  the  table  thus  ar-
ranged, than  he  asked  Swertha,  who,  waiting  the
effect  of  her  stratagem  as  a  fisher  watches  his
ground-baits,  was  fiddling  up  and  down  the  room,
"Whether  Mordaunt  was  returned  from  Burgh-
Westra  ? "

This  question  was  the  cue  for  Swertha,  and  she
answered  in  a  voice  of  sorrowful  anxiety,  half  real,
half  affected,  "  Na,  na !  —  nae  sic  divot  had  dunted
at  their  door.  It  wad  be  blithe  news  indeed,  to
ken  that  young  Maister  Mordaunt,  puir  dear  bairn,
were  safe  at  hame."

"  And  if  he  be  not  at  home,  why  should  you  lay
a  cover  for  him,  you  doting  fool  ? "  replied  Mertoun,
in  a  tone  well  calculated  to  stop  the  old  woman's
proceedings.  But  she  replied,  boldly,  "  that,  indeed,
somebody  should  take  thought  about  Maister  Mor-
daunt ;  a'  that  she  could  do  was  to  have  seat  and
plate  ready  for  him  when  he  came.  But  she  thought
the  dear  bairn  had  been  ower  lang  awa ;  and,  if  she
maxxn  speak  out,  she  had  her  ain  fears  when  and
whether  he  might  ever  come  hame."

"  Your  fears ! "  said  Mertoun,  his  eyes  flashing
as  they  usually  did  when  his  hour  of  ungovernable
passion  approached ;  "  do  you  speak  of  your  idle  fears
to  me,  who  know  that  all  of  your  sex,  that  is  not
fickleness,  and  folly,  and  self-conceit,  and  self-will,
is  a  bundle  of  idiotical  fears,  vapours,  and  tremors  ?
What  are  your  fears  to  me,  you  foolish  old  hag  ? "

It  is  an  admirable  quality  in  womankind,  that,
when  a  breach  of  the  laws  of  natural  affection  comes
under  their  observation,  the  whole  sex  is  in  arms.
