empty.  The  wonder  was  now  general,  and  not  un-
mixed with  fear ;  for  it  seemed  impossible  that  Noma
could  have,  in  any  manner,  escaped  from  the  taber-
nacle in  which  she  was  enclosed,  without  having
been  discovered  by  the  company.  Gone,  however,
she  was,  and  the  Udaller,  after  a  moment's  consider-
ation, dropt  the  skin-curtain  again  over  the  entrance
of  the  tent.
"My  friends,"  he  said,  with  a  cheerful  counte-
nance, "we  have  long  known  my  kinswoman,  and
that  her  ways  are  not  like  those  of  the  ordinary
folks  of  this  world.  But  she  means  well  by  Hialt-
land,  and  hath  the  love  of  a  sister  for  me,  and  for
my  house;  and  no  guest  of  mine  needs  either  to
fear  evil,  or  to  take  offence,  at  her  hand.  T  have  little
doubt  she  will  be  with  us  at  dinner-time."

"  Now,  Heaven  forbid  !  "  said  Mrs.  Baby  Yellow-
ley  — "  for,  my  gude  Leddy  Glowrowrum,  to  tell
your  leddyship  the  truth,  I  likena  cummers  that  can
come  and  gae  like  a  glance  of  the  sun,  or  the  whisk
of  a  whirlwind."

"  Speak  lower,  speak  lower,"  said  the  Lady  Glow-
rowrum, "and  be  thankful  that  yon  carlin  hasna
ta'en  the  house-side  away  wi'  her.  The  like  of  her
have  played  warse  pranks,  and  so  has  she  hersell,
unless  she  is  the  sairer  lied  on."

Similar  murmurs  ran  through  the  rest  of  the  com-
pany, until  the  Udaller  uplifted  his  stentorian  and
imperative  voice  to  put  them  to  silence,  and  invited,
or  rather  commanded,  the  attendance  of  his  guests
to  behold  the  boats  set  off  for  the  haaf  or  deep-sea
fishing.
