"In fearfu' times, Elsie," said Lilian laughing.
"Ay, indeed, hinny," continued the garrulous old woman. "Fearfu' times they were, when the Lord o' Crichton, wi' his fierce knights in their bright armour, on barbed horses, ravaged a' the West-kirk parochin to the castle-gate of Corstorphin, ruining lord, laird, and tenant body alike,—giving the cottar's home, the baron's tower, and the priest's kirk to torch and sack. Fearfu' times they ever are, hinny, when Scottish braves and Scottish blades are bent on ilk ither in the fell stoure o' battle."
"Elshender," said Lady Grisel—(interrupting these reminiscences, of which the reader is perhaps as tired as Lilian was)—"you have left the band on your wheel."
"Save us and sain us!" exclaimed the old woman, hobbling to her wheel. "The last time I did sae, the gude neighbours span on't the haill night, and ravelled a' my gude hawslock woo."
"Thou shouldst be more careful, Elshender," said Lady Grisel gravely. "It bodes ill luck; and a red thread should be tied to the rock.
Red thread and Rowan tree,
Mak' warlock, witch, and fairy flee.
I marvel, Lilian, that your friend and gossip, Annie Laurie, came not to visit us the moment she heard the proclamation of our innocence, and the Council's injustice."
"Dear Annie was the first to fly hither when our fortune was at the lowest ebb," said Lilian timidly. "Ah, Heaven, if she should be ill! She knows how welcome are the bearers of happy tidings."
"And most welcome is Mr. Fenton!" said the old lady, pressing his hand so kindly that Walter's heart leaped, and he scarcely dared to glance at Lilian. "Dear child, I tremble to think of all you have braved for our sake,—the torture, the bodkin, the dungeon! It was noble and generous. The hero of the old romance, Sir Roland of Roncesvalles, could not have done more."
"Spare me the shame of these thanks, madam. The honour of serving your ancient house is sufficient requital to one so—so nameless as I am. But, pray remember it is to my very good lord, the noble Dunbarton, you alone owe this happy change in fortune."