shade　of　curiosity　from　his　face；　took　an　attitude；　half　majesty；　half
  obsequiousness。
  Christie　stood　by　Lord　Ipsden；　with　one　hand　on　her　hip　（the　knuckles
  downward）；　but　graceful　as　Antinous；　and　began。
  〃Hoo　muckle　is　the　queen　greater　than　y'　are？〃
  His　lordship　was　obliged　to　reflect。
  〃Let　me　seeas　is　the　moon　to　a　wax　taper；　so　is　her　majesty　the　queen
  to　you　and　me；　and　the　rest。〃
  〃An'　whaur　does　the　Juke*　come　in？〃
  *　Buceleuch。
  〃On　this　particular　occasion；　the　Duke**　makes　one　of　us；　my　pretty
  maid。〃
  **Wellington
  〃I　see！　Are　na　yeawfu'　prood　o'　being　a　lorrd？〃
  〃What　an　idea！〃
  〃His　lordship　did　not　go　to　bed　a　spinning…jenny；　and　rise　up　a　lord；
  like　some　of　them；〃　put　in　Saunders。
  〃Saunders；〃　said　the　peer；　doubtfully；　〃eloquence　rather　bores　people。〃
  〃Then　I　mustn't　speak　again；　my　lord；〃　said　Saunders；　respectfully。
  〃Noo；〃　said　the　fair　inquisitor；　〃ye　shall　tell　me　how　ye　came　to　be
  lorrds；　your　faemily？〃
  〃Saunders！〃
  〃Na！　ye　manna　flee　to　Sandy　for　a　thing；　ye　are　no　a　bairn；　are　ye？〃
  Here　was　a　dilemma；　the　Saunders　prop　knocked　rudely　away；　and　obliged　to
  think　for　ourselves。
  But　Saunders　would　come　to　his　distressed　master's　assistance。　He
  furtively　conveyed　to　him　a　plump　bookthis　was　Saunders's　manual　of
  faith；　the　author　was　Mr。　Burke；　not　Edmund。
  Lord　Ipsden　ran　hastily　over　the　page；　closed　the　book；　and　said；　〃Here
  is　the　story。
  〃Five　hundred　years　ago〃
  〃Listen；　Jean；〃　said　Christie；　〃we're　gaun　to　get　a　boeny　story。　'Five
  hundre'　years　ago；'〃　added　she；　with　interest　and　awe。
  〃Was　a　great　battle；〃　resumed　the　narrator；　in　cheerful　tones；　as　one
  larking　with　history；　〃between　a　king　of　England　and　his　rebels。　He　was
  in　the　thick　of　the　fight〃
  〃That's　the　king；　Jean；　he　was　in　the　thick　o't。〃
  〃My　ancestor　killed　a　fellow　who　was　sneaking　behind　him；　but　the　next
  moment　a　man…at…arms　prepared　a　thrust　at　his　majesty；　who　had　his　hands
  full　with　three　assailants。〃
  〃Eh！　that's　no　fair；〃　said　Christie；　〃as　sure　as　deeth。〃
  〃My　ancestor　dashed　forward；　and；　as　the　king's　sword　passed　through　one
  of　them；　he　clove　another　to　the　waist　with　a　blow。〃
  〃Weel　done！　weel　done！〃
  Lord　Ipsden　looked　at　the　speaker；　her　eyes　were　glittering；　and　her
  cheek　flushing。
  〃Good　Heavens！〃　thought　he；　〃she　believes　it！〃　So　he　began　to　take　more
  pains　with　his　legend。
  〃But　for　the　spearsman；〃　continued　he；　〃he　had　nothing　but　his　body；　he
  gave　it；　it　was　his　duty；　and　received　the　death　leveled　at　his
  sovereign。〃
  〃Hech！　puir　mon。〃　And　the　glowing　eyes　began　to　glisten。
  〃The　battle　flowed　another　way；　and　God　gave　victory　to　the　right；　but
  the　king　came　back　to　look　for　him；　for　it　was　no　common　service。〃
  〃Deed　no！〃
  Here　Lord　Ipsden　began　to　turn　his　eye　inward；　and　call　up　the　scene。　He
  lowered　his　voice。
  〃They　found　him　lying　on　his　back；　looking　death　in　the　face。
  〃The　nobles；　by　the　king's　side；　uncovered　as　soon　as　he　was　found；　for
  they　were　brave　men；　too。　There　was　a　moment's　silence；　eyes　met　eyes；
  and　said；　this　is　a　stout　soldier's　last　battle。
  〃The　king　could　not　bid　him　live。〃
  〃Na！　lad；　King　Deeth　has　ower　strong　a　grrip。〃
  〃But　he　did　what　kings　can　do；　he　gave　him　two　blows　with　his　royal
  sword。〃
  〃Oh；　the　robber；　and　him　a　deeing　mon。〃
  〃Two　words　from　his　royal　mouth；　and　he　and　we　were　Barons　of　Ipsden　and
  Hawthorn　Glen　from　that　day　to　this。〃
  〃But　the　puir　dying　creature？〃
  〃What　poor　dying　creature？〃
  〃Your　forbear；　lad。〃
  〃I　don't　know　why　you　call　him　poor；　madam；　all　the　men　of　that　day　are
  dust；　they　are　the　gold　dust　who　died　with　honor。
  〃He　looked　round；　uneasily；　for　his　sonfor　he　had　but　oneand　when
  that　son　knelt；　unwounded；　by　him；　he　said；　'Goodnight；　Baron　Ipsden；'
  and　so　he　died；　fire　in　his　eye；　a　smile　on　his　lip；　and　honor　on　his
  name　forever。　I　meant　to　tell　you　a　lie；　and　I've　told　you　the　truth。〃
  〃Laddie；〃　said　Christie；　half　admiringly；　half　reproachfully；　〃ye　gar　the
  tear　come　in　my　een。　Hech！　look　at　yon　lassie！　how　could　you　think　t'eat
  plums　through　siccan　a　bonny　story？〃
  〃Hets；〃　answered　Jean；　who　had；　in　fact；　cleared　the　plate；　〃I　aye　listen
  best　when　my　ain　mooth's　stappit。〃
  〃But　see；　now；〃　pondered　Christie；　〃twa　words　fra　a　kingthir　titles　are
  just　breeth。〃
  〃Of　course；〃　was　the　answer。　〃All　titles　are。　What　is　popularity？　ask
  Aristides　and　Lamartinethe　breath　of　a　mobsmells　of　its　sourceand
  is　gone　before　the　sun　can　set　on　it。　Now　the　royal　breath　does　smell　of
  the　Rose　and　Crown；　and　stays　by　us　from　age　to　age。〃
  The　story　had　warmed　our　marble　acquaintance。　Saunders　opened　his　eyes；
  and　thought；　〃We　shall　wake　up　the　House　of　Lords　some　evening_we_
  shall。〃
  His　lordship　then　added；　less　warmly；　looking　at　the　girls：
  〃I　think　I　should　like　to　be　a　fisherman。〃
  So　saying；　my　lord　yawned　slightly。
  To　this　aspiration　the　young　fishwives　deigned　no　attention；　doubting；
  perhaps；　its　sincerity；　and　Christie；　with　a　shade　of　severity；　inquired
  of　him　how　he　came　to　be　a　vile　count。
  〃A　baron's　no'　a　vile　count；　I'm　sure；〃　said　she；　〃sae　tell　me　how　ye
  came　to　be　a　vile　count。〃
  〃Ah！〃　said　he；　〃that　is　by　no　means　a　pretty　story　like　the　other；　you
  will　not　like　it；　I　am　sure。
  〃Ay；　will　Iay；　will　I；　I'm　aye　seeking　knoewledge。〃
  〃Well；　it　is　soon　told。　One　of　us　sat　twenty　years　on　one　seat；　in　the
  same　house；　so　one　day　he　got　up　aviscount。〃
  〃Ower　muckle　pay　for　ower　little　wark。〃
  〃Now　don't　say　that；　I　wouldn't　do　it　to　be　Emperor　of　Russia。〃
  〃Aweel；　I　hae　gotten　a　heap　out　o'　ye；　sae　noow　I'll　gang；　since　ye　are
  no　for　herrin'；　come　away；　Jean。〃
  At　this　their　host　remonstrated；　and　inquired　why　bores　are　at　one's
  service　night　and　day；　and　bright　people　are　always　in　a　hurry；　he　was
  informed　in　reply；　〃Labor　is　the　lot　o'　man。　Div　ye　no　ken　that　muckle？
  And　abune　a'　o'　women。〃*
  *　A　local　idea；　I　suspect。C。　R。
  〃Why；　what　can　two　such　pretty　creatures　have　to　do　except　to　be
  admired？〃
  This　question　coming　within　the　dark　beauty's　scope；　she　hastened　to
  reply。
  〃To　sell　our　herrin'we　hae　three　hundre'　left　in　the　creel。〃
  〃What　is　the　price？〃
  At　this　question　the　poetry　died　out　of　Christie　Johnstone's　face；　she
  gave　her　companion　a　rapid　look；　indiscernible　by　male　eye；　and　answered：
  〃Three　a　penny；　sirr；　they　are　no　plenty　the　day；〃　added　she；　in　smooth
  tones　that　carried　conviction。
  （Little　liar；　they　were　selling　six　a　penny　everywhere。）
  〃Saunders；　buy　them　all；　and　be　ever　so　long　about　it；　count　them；　or
  some　nonsense。〃
  〃He's　daft！　he's　daft！　Oh；　ye　ken；　Jean；　an　Ennglishman　and　a　lorrd；　twa
  daft　things　thegither；　he　could　na'　miss　the　road。　Coont　them；　lassie。〃
  〃Come　away；　Sandy；　till　I　count　them　till　ye；〃　said　Jean。
  Saunders　and　Jean　disappeared。
  Business　being　out　of　sight；　curiosity　revived。
  〃An'　what　brings　ye　here　from　London；　if　ye　please？〃　recommenced　the　fair
  inquisitor。
  〃You　have　a　good　countenance；　there　is　something　in　your　face。　I　could
  find　it　in　my　heart　to　tell　you；　but　I　should　bore　you。〃
  〃De'el　a　fear！　Bore　me；　bore　me！　wheat's　thaat；　I　wonder？〃
  〃What　is　your　name；　madam？　Mine　is　Ipsden。〃
  〃They　ca'　me　Christie　Johnstone。〃
  〃Well；　Christie　Johnstone；　I　am　under　the　doctor's　hands。〃
  〃Puir　lad。　What's　the　trouble？〃　（solemnly　and　tenderly。）
  〃Ennui！〃　（rather　piteously。）
  〃Yawn…we？　I　never　heerd　tell　o't。〃
  〃Oh；　you　lucky　girl；〃　burst　out　he；　〃but　the　doctor　has　undertaken　to
  cure　me；　in　one　thing　you　could　assist　me；　if　I　am　not　presuming　too　far
  on　our　short　acquaintance。　I　am　to　relieve　one　poor　distressed　person
  every　day；　but　I　mustn't　do　two。　Is　not　that　a　bore？〃
  〃Gie's　your　hand；　gie's　your　hand。　I'm　vexed　for　ca'ing　you　daft。　Hech！
  what　a　saft　hand　ye　hae。　Jean；　I'm　saying；　come　here；　feel　this。〃
  Jean；　who　had　run　in；　took　the　viscount's　hand　from　Christie。
  〃It　never　wroucht　any；〃　explained　Jean。　〃And　he　has　bonny　hair；〃　said
  Christie；　just　touching　his　locks　on　the　other　side。
  〃He's　a　bonny　lad；〃　said　Jean；　inspecting　him　scientifically；　and
  pointblank。
  〃Ay；　is　he；〃　said　the　other。　〃Aweel；　there's　Jess　Rutherford；　a　widdy；
  wi'　four　bairns；　ye　meicht　do　waur　than　ware　your　siller　on　her。〃
  〃Five　pounds　to　begin？〃　inquired　his　lordship。
  〃Five　pund！　Are　ye　made　o'　siller？　Ten　schell'n！〃
  Saunders　was　rung　for；　and　produced　a　one…pound　note。
  〃The　herrin'　is　five　and　saxpence；　it's　four　and　saxpence　I'm　awin　ye；〃
  said　the　young　fishwife；　〃and　Jess　will　be　a　glad　woman　the　neicht。〃
  The　settlement　was　effected；　and　away　went　the　two　friends；　saying：
  〃Good…boye；　vile　count。〃
  Their　host　fell　into　thought。
  〃When　have　I　talked　so　much？〃　asked　he　of　himself。
  〃Dr。　Aberford；　you　are　a　wonderful　man；　I　like　your　lower　classes
  amazingly。〃
  〃Me'fiez　vous；　Monsieur　Ipsden！〃　should　some　mentor　have　said。
  As　the　Devil　puts　into　a　beginner's　hands　ace；　queen；　five　trumps；　to
  give　him　a　taste　for　whist；　so　these　lower　classes　have　perhaps　put
  forward　one　of　their　best　cards　to　lead　you　into　a　false　estimate　of　the
  strength　of　their　hand。
  Instead；　however；　of　this；　who　should　return；　to　disturb　the　equilibrium
  of　truth；　but　this　Christina　Johnstone