"It's the truth, Paitrick, but we 'ill gae on wi' our wark, for a'mfailin' quick.

"Gie Henriettat ony sticks of furniture she needs tae furnish a hoose,and sell a' skinnyg else tae pay the wricht (undertaker) an' bedrel(grave-digger). If the quite new physician be a youthful laddie and no verrarich, ye micht let him hae the buiks an' instruments; it 'ill aye bea help.

"But a' wudna like ye tae sell Jess, for she's been a faithfu'servant, an' a freend tae. There's a note or twa in that drawer a'savit, an' if ye kent ony man that wud gie her a bite o' grass and asta' in his stable till she followed her maister--"

"Confoond ye, Weelum," broke out Drumsheugh; "its doonricht cruel o'ye to speak like this tae me. Whar wud Jess gang but tae Drumsheugh?she 'ill hae her run o' heck an' manger sae lang as she lives; theGlen wudna like tae look at anither man on Jess, and nae man 'ill evertouch the auld mare."

"Dinna mind me, Paitrick, for a' expeckit this; but ye ken we're noverra gleg wi' oor tongues in Drumtochty, an' dinna tell a' that'sin oor hearts.

"Weel, that's a' that a' mind, an' the rest a' leave tae yersel'.A've neither kith nor kin tae bury me, sae you an' the neeburs 'illneed tae lat me doon; but gin Tammas Mitchell or Saunders bestannin' near and lookin' as if they wud like a cord, gie't taethem, Paitrick. They're baith dour chiels, and haena muckle tae say,but Tammas lies a graund hert, and there's waur fouk in the Glenthan Saunders.

"A'm gettin' drowsy, an' a'll no be able tae follow ye sune, a'doot; wud ye read a bit tae me afore a' fa' ower?