"I daur swear that you're right there, mem," said Dallas; "little worth followers of the camp they were, nae doot;--and yet the hizzies were weel pit on. I followed the bodies as they soomed down the water, and cleekit ane o' them ashore, and although her mutch was gane, she had a gude goon and a daycent rocklay on, and ither things forbye; but they ware a' sae spiled wi' the water, that I selt them till a woman in Elgin for an auld sang. But I'll tell ye what it is, mem, weemen--that is, daycent weemen--have nae business----" "You have no business with the women, Mr. Dallas," interrupted the Pensassenach impatiently--"it is of the men--of the troops, and of their noble and gallant leader that I would hear. All across, said you? and what became of the other Duke?" continued she, in a contemptuous tone. "I mean the rebel Duke--the Duke of Perth, I mean? Where was he, and where were his heroes, that they did not arrest the progress of the Royal army?" "Troth, mem, the Duke o' Perth and his men just came on their ways wast the country, and left the English airmy to cross at their ain wull," replied Willy. "Bravo! bravo!" shouted the lady, waving her hand around her head. "The false knaves dared not to face them! Well, any more news, Dallas?" "I ken nae mair that I hae to tell ye," said Dallas, "exceppin' that I was in the English camp yestreen mysel', and that I selled a wheen caumrick pocket-napkins, and three yairds o' black ribban, till yere brither, Captain John, and I promised to ca' in by this way aince eerant to tell ye that he was weel, and to drink his health." "Thank ye, thank ye, good Bill Dallas!" cried the lady, clapping her hands in an ecstasy of joy; "you shall not fail to do that; but why did you not tell me this joyful news before? Stay, my good man--here is for your happy tidings!" and, running to a corner cupboard, she brought out a bottle of brandy, and filled him a tasse, that made his eyes dance in his head after he had tossed it off. "My certy, that's prime stuff indeed," said Dallas, panting with the very strength of it. "And noo, mem, will ye look at my pack.--I hae some o' the grandest jewels, rings, chains, watches, and brooches--the gayest ribbans--and, aboon a', the bonniest lace,--ye never saw siccan lace. The captain said he was quite sure it wad tak your ee, for that you had siccan a fine taste. Troth, says I till him, you're no far wrang there, captain; Mistress MacArthur has the best taste and joodgement in lace o' a' my customers, north or sooth--north or sooth, said I. It's quite beautifou lace, mem, as ye'll say when ye see't; and sae cheap, too! Od, I'm sellin' it for half nothin'. Shall I bring the pack ben here, mem?--ye'll hae mair light here."