been between Willie and his two friends, I pretend not to say; though it is more than probable that Linty and the fiddler were comparing notes, and very probably all three of them successively commenting on what they had seen and heard in respect of Miss Dinwoodie's elopement. Be that as it may, the young laird had certainly repented him of his hasty conversion on Tuesday night, if we may be allowed to deduce an opinion from the tenor of his conversation immediately after breakfast; and it would appear, that John Dinwoodie and Nanse had also been tainted with heresy, notwithstanding a coincidence of circumstances induced them to pin their faith to Mrs Simpson's sleeve. Indeed I might quote the words of that worthy couple to prove the correctness of my assertion; but it appears to me, that Willie Dandison's recantation is somewhat more explicit, and therefore do I present it to my readers in preference. "Notwithstanding a' that has been said," quo' Linty, addressing himself to the company in general," I kenna what to think o' this Elf-knowe story. Here's a blooming young woman, i' the prime o' life, gaes out to breathe the morning air, and listen to the laverocks. A green spirit fa's in luve wi' her; makes his approaches i' the most engaging manner; cuddles her into a Lilliputian, and finally vanishes wi' the fair fruit o' his mysterious address. Now this is a plain statement o' the case, without a single sprig o' decoration; and when either man or mither's son can satisfy my conscience that material is capable o' handling immaterial, and vice versa, then will I believe that Aggie Dinwoodie's awa wi' the fairies; but the thing's impossible, and therefore canna be done. De pend on't, the lassie was gripped by kirsen'd fingers. Deil a bit o' me can believe, after a', that fairies, and brownies, and so forth, ever dwalt onie where else than in empty heads." "Far be it frae me, Mr Dandison," quo' the miller's wife, “to quarrel wi' ye, because, forsooth, we dinna just agree in opinion; but let me tell ye, Sir, that ministers o' the Presbytry, and elders o' the Kirk o' Scotland, believe i' the fairies; and I ha'e read a black prented beuk mysel', that ga'e a true and faithfu' account o' Brownie, or Billie-Blin, as they ca' him in Gallowa', a beuk that might satisfy the most scruplous conscience as to his being a sojourner i' the land. Besides, there's abundance o' auld folk about Newabbey, wha ha'e seen him as aften as they ha'e teeth ' their head, and can also point out his howffs. The very last time I was there on a visit to my gudeman's aunt, she made mention of an auld barn that Brownie frequented, i' the immediate neighbourhood, and tauld a tale about him that I'll ne'er forget, because it places the most ancient and amiable o' our domestic spirits in sic a gentlemany point o' view." "About a year or twa before gude King James set his face against glamour, and witchcraft, and evil spirits," quo' Elspeth Morrison, "the laird o' Kinderside's only dochter, and indeed his only bairn, was in great tribulation on account o' an auld moorland warlock that had fa'en in luve wi' her; and sae greatly dreaded was he, that she durstna for her life deny his suit." It so happened, that the young lady was walking on the loch-side ae simmer night, bewailing the fate that awaited her, when Billie-Blin made his appearance. But I may just as well tell ye the tale as Elspeth tauld it me. has been busked in rhyme by some body or ither, and begins this gate: The simmer sun's departing beams Were streaming owre the fell, Where prancing Kelpies yell. On fair Lochkinder's scraggie banks On every sprouting tree : She lifted up her luvely een, On gilded cliff' and clough, Ripe as the red berrie, And browse in green-wood gay; It "Draw near-and sympathize wi' me, "In forest green ye freely range "Nor aught impedes your rural loves, "Whilst I, Lochkinder's ae dochter, "Maun dight my dozing, sleepless een, "Full monie a crap o' helmed heads But Carlinclough wou'd mock its might, "He shakes his nieve in wizard ire, And off they scour, like summer stour, "His warlock belt, wi' awsom glowr, "And his pyke-staff, o' Lapland growth, Inlaid wi' monie a spell, Ay scaurs my heart, when he draws near But I maun climb his bridal bed, "And I, Lochkinder's ae dochter, "Now cease to grieve, my winsome dear," Shall never fall a prey. "Nor Carlinclough, wi' a' his wiles, And she beheld, wi' shuddering heart, And body, too, o' goodly growth, But in a trice, wi' active heels, That shaw'd agilitie, The hairy elve lap to its legs, And bow'd right courteouslie. His claith-yard stature, buirdly back, And sober landart air, Tauld Katherine's een, o' starry sheen, That strength was dwalling there. His features full, wi' kindness fraught, His glinting een also, Proclaim'd a heart that cou'dna thole The wail o' maiden woe. "Fair ladye," said the tawny elve, O' visage lank and dun, "This ancient face has tholed the look O' monie a simmer sun. "These aged hands ha'e swung the flail, And held the toiling plough, When yon auld aik an acorn hang Upon the parent bough. "And these twa faithfu' feet ha'e trudg'd Around the lanesome fauld, When gude King Robert shook his glaive, And foemen stood appal'd. "A faithfu' Brownie ha'e I been To a' thy bauld forebears, And now that ither Lords maun heir Ha'e I presum'd, wi' humble heart, To doff the cloak that spirits wear, "To bare mine arm in thy behalf, "Young Auchindolly weel deserves The fairest i' the land, And he shall ha'e thy hand. Nor shall the skill o' Carlinclough "There's a wheen verses here and there that ha'e deserted my memory a'thegither, but I remember the tenor o' them weel enough, and that's the main thing. Brownie tauld Miss Ogilvie, that he had a scheme in contemplation for cutting aff the auld warlock, and that twa o' his spiritual cronies had faithfully promised to lend a helping hand. Wha d'ye think, now, were Billy's confederates? "There's dappled Kelpie o' the pool, And Midge, the liveliest fay E'er shook a foot on daisy bloom, Or lilted rural aly Twa sworn associates o' mine, Of courage staunch and tried, Nordwalls there three more neighbourlie In Gallowa' sae wide." "I really ha'e forgotten what passed between Brownie and the young leddy at parting, but it's a matter o' nae consequence. On the bridal morning, Carlinclough's man gaed into the stable to gi'e his master's dappled naig a gude dressing; but he hadna weel began to curry his hide, when the poor fallow was seized wi' a dreadfu' shivering, that gaur'd his verra knees knock thegither, and the cauld sweat gush frae every pore o' his body. "After a severe struggle, he contrived to saddle the beast, and bring him out to the close; but without sae meikle as jealousing the trick that had been play't. Carlinclough buckled on his glamour belt, mounted the steed, and set aff for Kinderside, followed by his man on a black Gallowa', that wasna just what it seemed to be; and if the lad had cause to shake i' the stable, he had also cause to marvel i' the craft. "Preserve us,"cried the wondering groom, "Nor stony ground, nor grassy glebe, "I ha'e infus'd in his brave hoofs Baith might and mettle too, O'er moor and mountain dun, Till he beheld Lochkinder waves Glance to the noon-day sun. At once o'er bank and brake, Then did his rampant courser bound "When Kelpie had gotten to the verra middle o' Lochkinder, he shook the auld warlock aff his back, and douked out o' sight amang the waterflags; for ye'll please to observe, that he had personated Carlinclough's grey naig. By this time the Loch-side was lined wi' bridal folk and lookers-on frae a' quarters, anxious to see what wou'd become o' the bridegroom. The auld fallow struggled hard for his life, and made a bauld push for the shore, but his hour was comeHe gied a scraigh, an awsome scraigh, That scaur'd baith young and auld, And twa black hands down by the heels The gasping wizard haul'd." Mrs Morrison, in all probability, had still a few verses to recite, and, in default of rhyme, it is equally probable that she would have made a very handsome prose apology for the abrupt termination of her truly romantic tale, besides delivering a few comments, by way of illustration, for the benefit of Willie Dandison and others; but Jenny Dawson bounced ben the house in her usual light-headed manner, with a piece of intelligence that diverted the tide of discourse into a quite different channel. "Here's Randy Meg and the twa cuddies," quo' Jenny," coming down the loaning; I suppose she may ca' them to the craft, and tak' up her quarters i' the kiln. There's to be nae clanjamphry there the night, that I ken of, but hirpling Grizzy and Rob's Jock, the Lochmaben packman." "Tak' the bairns out o' the panniers, Jenny, my woman," quo' Mr Dinwoodie," and tether the cuddies, and tell Margaret Marshall to come down the house to me. She's a tinkler wife, it's true, and uncouth enough at times, baith in her dress and her address; but she has gotten a kind, warm heart, and that's what I like aboon a' things,"-an article of which Jenny Dawson herself was also most happily possessed. She flew to the close, handed the young itinerants from their wicker palanquins, and delivered her message. Mrs Marshall accepted the invitation, and made her appearance before the gudewife accordingly."Come awa', Margaret," quo' Nanse Dinwoodie," and gi'e me a grip o' your hand. Oh, woman, little did I expect that my downsitting i' the house of mourning wou'd ha'e been sae unco sudden the last time I saw ye." "And as little did I trow," observed Mrs Marshall, “to ha’e found a wet cheek, or a sair heart, at the Grange of Balachan, this day. The body, Mrs Dinwoodie, has its ailments, and the mind its troubles to contend wi'. Bodily trouble, when wasting the flesh, is often ill to thole, but mental affliction is much more severe, for it preys on the spirit, and, God knows, ye ha'e got enough o't. The grey gate that Aggie has gane might bow down a stouter spirit than your's; and that ye may ha'e strength to walk wi' an upright heart under the dispensation, and grace to profit by its chastening, is what I'll petition for, this blessed night, on my bare knees." Fine words for a tinkler wife! At the close of her speech, John Dinwoodie, somehow or other, felt himself called upon to vindicate his paternal character, and also that of his wife. He accordingly proceeded, in a fine tone of genuine sensibility, to make manifest the purity of their motives for countenancing Gawin's suit; but every lady and gentleman then present, declared themselves perfectly satisfied on that score, particularly Jamie Scott, who said much in a few words. Miller Morrison also spoke to the purpose, in a neat little oration, teeming with eloquence, and sparkling with brilliancy; and after heartily concurring in all that had fallen from his worthy colleagues, he set about procuring information relative to Miss Dinwoodie's case, from a quarter that he verily believed was perfectly competent to supply his wants. Thirlamwhairn, like unto myself, put much more confidence in the man of plain plodding experience than ever he could find in his heart to place in the most plausible theorist; and the moment Randy Meg was announced, it struck him most forcibly, that she was a very fit person to consult, be VOL. XI. ing a woman who had seen the world, and at the same time connected with a portion of the community famed all over Europe for their skill in divination. Full of this conceit, the miller accosted Margaret Marshall in these words, "Ha'e ye onie notion, Meg, how to deal wi' the fairies when they commit deprendations o' this sort?" "Fairies!" quo' Meg; "what d' ye mean, miller? Conversation about imps and elves is a' verra weel in its season, but I wou'd like to ken what fairies ha'e ado wi' the trouble that afflicts this house." Willie Dandison was acute enough to perceive that the tinkler wife had some knowledge of the bride's route, and, in order to afford Meg an opportunity of communicating what she knew, he thus addressed her: "We're completely at a stand still, Mrs Marshall. The fairies ha'e enticed awa' Miss Dinwoodie, and there's nane o' us weird enough to break the enchantment that hauds her durance. Ha'e ye onie knowledge o' the black art?" Randy Meg stared about her like a woman bewitched, not knowing whether Linty was in earnest, until one and all assured her that such really was the prevailing opinion, and marvelled much at her ignorance of Aggie's exit at the Elfknowe. "Weel, Sirs," quo' Randy Meg Marshall, "I think ye're a' demented thegither. Fairies indeed! she's aff wi' GALLOWA' TAM." Be it known, gentle reader, that I purposely omit the broken-winded conversation that ensued, not because it is altogether uninteresting, but really I know not how to stick it together. Mrs Marshall was interrupted in her narration no less than seven-and-twenty times and a half, owing, no doubt, to the anxiety of all concerned to possess the particulars sooner than they could possibly cross the threshold of her lips; and were I to put on record every question, crossquestion, and reply, that passed between Margaret and her audience, blended with portions of the story itself, likely enough my good-natured friend, the reader, might feel himself inclined to twirl up his nose at the higgledy-piggledy hodge-podge. I will therefore, with his permission, insert Meg's tale at full length, without any digression whatever, G my travels. Oh! how gallantly he lifted his legs, and strieked himsel on the brae at every spring, just as tho' he had been louping for dear life. His mettle was also without parallel, for we coudna perceive a turned hair on a' his hide. By this, Johnny and me were perfectly satisfied wha the young woman was, for we had seen her face; but the blue riding-habit and beaver hat, together wi' her fine personable shape, were sufficiently kenspeckle; and it they approached the hollin bush, to was just on my tongue tap, when cry out, Oh thou base reaver, set down the honest man's bairn this precious moment, or by a' that's gude and sacred I'll brain ye.' But Aggie marr'd the exclamation wi' ane oʻ herain. For gudesake, Tam M'Clellan, ride at leisure,' quo' Miss Dinwoodie, or I'll be aff the beast, as sure as a gun.' Haud, ye deevil," deil a dominie shall e'er throw saut quo' Tam; 'keep your grip, Aggie; 'thy taik' And awa' he gaed, like left wi' his oak stick, and was out a shot, cutting the wind right and o' sight in a hand-clap. The marha'e rode on a cuddy, and cadged row o' him I never beheld, and I horn spoons through the whole south o' Scotland, ever since I was words at parting, tending to increase cock-burd high." Reader, a few thy stock of knowledge, will no doubt be acceptable, so give ear and listen unto me: RANDY MEG'S NARRATIVE IS THE ONLY AUTHENTIC DOCUMENT RELATIVE TO MISS DIN pledging myself, as usual, for the correctness of the version. "When our Johnny and me left the laird o' Scrubbiecraft's kiln yesterday morning," quo' Mrs Marshall, "and had fairly gotten out o' sight o' the town, we tethered the cuddies, and sat down at the hip o' a hollin bush by the road-side, to satisfy oursels about the settlement we had wi' him, for he's an auld suspicious hizzy-fallow, and folk o' that denomination, ye ken, are seldom what they shou'd be. The poor woman's meikle to be pitied that's trysted wi' him, but he'll be brought to beuk ane o' thae days, in a manner he little jealouses. Weel, as I was gaun to tell ye, there had been a rinning score, o' lang standing, between us. Three dizen o' nowt spoons; a dizen and a half o' ram cutties; twa superfine green dividers, chaced round the edges; a pair o' woo' cairds, and clasping crokery without end, for the servant lassies just tak' a delight in breaking his ware; forbye twa smoothing-airns and a lug to the kail-pot, constituted the main body o' what we had anent him. Scrubbiecraft being a beuk-learned man, coost up the accounts his ain gate, paid us plack and penny out o' his ain hand, for he never suffers the gudewife to finger siller, and awa he gaed to flit the fauld, before Johnny and me had gotten the nick-stick thoroughly examined. So we sat down ahint the hollin bush, as I said before, and had just gotten the length o' the woo' cairds, when my gudeman ga'e a bit o' a start, as a body wOODIE'S ELOPEMENT THAT EVER may do when ta'en by surprise, and said unto me, 'Preserve us, Peggy, what's that? We baith got up, and heard a kind o' scampering down i' the glen, and presently a braid blue bonnet made its appearance amang the bushes. Weel, quoth I to mysel', a tippeny cat may look at the king; haith I'll see what's under thy canopy before my hunkers alute green grass. We accordingly kept our een on the look-out; and when bonnet, and body, and every thing else, became perfectly manifest, wha shou'd it be but Gallowa' Tam, wi' ane o' thae green cavalier cloaks on, riding a bonnie grey naig, and a young lass ahint him. "I never saw a soupler beast in a’ YET WAS PUBLISHED!!! PRESCOT'S PRETENDED REFUTATION [The inverted scheme of Copernicus, with |