“I am still at a loss, good woman,” said the Warden.
“At a loss!” rejoined Margaret. “What! doesna a’ the Forest,[C] and Teviotdale and Tweeddale to boot, ken that Christie’s Will is in Jedburgh jail?”
“I know, I know, good dame,” replied the Warden, “that that brave riever is in prison; but I thought his crime was the stealing of a cow, and not a tether, as I heard you say to my servant.”
“Weel, weel—the cow may have been at the end o’ the tether,” replied Margaret.
“She is a wise woman who concealeth the extremity of her husband’s crime,” replied Lord Traquair, with a smile, “But what wouldst thou have me to do?”
“Just to save Christie’s Will frae the gallows, my Lord,” answered Margaret. And, going up close to his Lordship, and whispering in his ear—“And sometimes a Lord needs a lift as weel as ither folk. If there’s nae buck on Traquair when your Lordship has company at the castle, you hae only to gie Christie’s Will a nod, and there will be nae want o’ venison here for a month. There’s no a stouthriever in a’ Liddesdale, be he baron or bondsman, knight or knave, but Christie’s Will will bring to you at your Lordship’s bidding, and a week’s biding; and if there’s ony want o’ a braw leddie,” (speaking low,) “to keep the bonny house o’ Traquair in order, an’ she canna be got for a carlin keeper, a wink to Christie’s Will will bring her here, unscathed by sun or wind, in suner time than a priest could tie the knot, or a lawyer loose it. Is sic a man a meet burden for a fir wuddy, my Lord?”
“By my faith, your husband hath good properties about him,” replied Traquair. “There is not one in these parts that knoweth not Christie’s Will; but I fear it is to that fame he oweth his danger. He is the last of the old Armstrongs; and there is a saying hereaway, that
‘Comes Liddesdale’s peace
When Armstrongs cease;’
and since, good dame, it would ill become the King’s Warden to let slip the noose that is to catch peace and order for our march territories, yet Will is too noble a fellow for hanging. Go thy ways. I’ll see him—I’ll see him.”
“Hech na, my Lord,” answered Margaret; “I’ll no budge frae this house till ye say ye’ll save him this ance. I’ll be caution and surety for him mysel’, that he’ll never again dine in Gilnockie on another man’s surloins. His clan has been lang a broken ane; but I am now the head o’t, and it has aye been the practice in our country to make the head answer for the rest o’ the body.”