"Well, but what did ye speak about?" "Ou, he just asked questions like ony ither stranger," answered. the postilion, possessed, as it seemed, with the refractory and uncommunicative spirit which had left his mistress. "But about what?" said Glossin. "Ou, just about the folk that was playing at the curling, and about auld Jock Stevenson that was at the cock, and about the leddies, and sic like." "What ladies? and what did he ask about them, Jock?" said the interrogator. "What leddies? ou, it was Miss Jowlia Mannering and Miss Lucy Bertram, that ye ken fu' weel yourself, Mr. Glossin--they were walking wi' the young Laird of Hazlewood upon the ice." ""And what did you tell him about them?" demanded Glossin. "Tut, we just said that was Miss Lucy Bertram of Ellangowan, that should ance have had a great estate in the country--and that was Miss Jowlia Mannering, that was to be married to young Hazlewood--See as she was hinging on his arm--we just spoke about our country clashes like--he was a very frank man." "Well, and what did he say in answer?" "Ou, he just stared at the young leddies very keen like, and asked if it was for certain that the marriage was to be between Miss Mannering and young Hazlewood--and I answered him that it was for positive and absolute certain, as I had an undoubted right to say sae--for my third cousin Jean Clavers (she's a relation o' your ain, Mr. Glossin, ye wad ken Jean lang syne?), she's sib [*Related] to the housekeeper at Woodbourne, and she's tell'd me mair than ance that there was naething could be mair likely." "And what did the stranger say when you told him all this?" said Glossin. "Say?" echoed the postilion, "he said naething at a'--he just stared at them as they walked round the loch upon the ice, as if he could have eaten them, and he never took his ee aff them, or said another word, or gave another glance at the Bonspiel, [*playing match] though there was the finest fun amang the curlers ever was seen--and he turned round and gaed aff the loch by the kirk-stile through Woodbourne fir-plantings, and we saw nae mair o' him." "Only think," said Mrs. Mac-Candlish, "what a hard heart he maun hae had, to think o' hurting the poor young gentleman in the very presence of the leddy he was to be married to!" "Oh, Mrs. Mac-Candlish,' said Glossin, "there's been many cases such as that on the record--,doubtless he was seeking revenge where it would be deepest and sweetest." "God pity us!" said Deacon Bearcliff, "we're puir frail creatures when left to oursells!--ay, he forgot wha said, 'Vengeance is mine, and I will repay it."'