"Bide a wee, bide a wee," said Cuddie. "Weel, and there's a bit ring he had hinging in a black ribbon doun on his breast. I am thinking it has been a love-token, puir fallow--there's naebody sae rough but they hae aye a kind heart to the lasses--and there's a book wi'a wheen papers, and I got twa or three odd things, that I'll keep to mysell, forby." "Upon my word, you have made a very successful foray for a beginner," said his new master. "Haena I e'en now?" said Cuddie, with great exultation. "I tauld ye I wasna that dooms stupid, if it cam to lifting things.--And forby, I hae gotten twa gude horse. A feckless loon of a Straven weaver, that has left his loom and his bein house to sit skirling on a cauld hill-side, had catched twa dragoon naigs, and he could neither gar them hup nor wind, sae he took a gowd noble for them baith--I suld hae tried him wi' half the siller, but it's an unco ill place to get change in--Ye'll find the siller's missing out o' Bothwell's purse." "You have made a most excellent and useful purchase, Cuddie; but what is that portmanteau?" "The pockmantle?" answered Cuddie, "it was Lord Evandale's yesterday, and it's yours the day. I fand it ahint the bush o' broom yonder--ilka dog has its day--Ye ken what the auld sang says, 'Take turn about, mither, quo' Tam o' the Linn.' "And, speaking o' that, I maun gang and see about my mither, puir auld body, if your honour hasna ony immediate commands." "But, Cuddie," said Morton, "I really cannot take these things from you without some recompense." "Hout fie, stir," answered Cuddie, "ye suld aye be taking,--for recompense, ye may think about that some other time--I hae seen gay weel to mysell wi' some things that fit me better. What could I do wi' Lord Evandale's braw claes? Sergeant Bothwell's will serve me weel eneugh." Not being able to prevail on the self-constituted and disinterested follower to accept of any thing for himself out of these warlike spoils, Morton resolved to take the first opportunity of returning Lord Evandale's property, supposing him yet to be alive; and, in the meanwhile, did not hesitate to avail himself of Cuddie's prize, so far as to appropriate some changes of linen and other triffling articles amongst those of more value which the portmanteau contained.