There is said to be a curse on an estate in Argyllshire, that a lineal descendant will never succeed to it, and on one of the principal castles in Perthshire, that no legitimate heir (_oighre dligheach_) will own it till the third generation (_gus an treasa linn_). This latter curse was paused by the haughtiness of an old woman, a former mistress of the castle, who lived entirely on marrow. All evil wishes can be counteracted by the bystander saying, after each curse, “The fruit of your wish be on your own body” (_Toradh do ghuidhe far_, etc.). On the occasion above referred to, of the banning by the tinker wife, her frightful tirade became ludicrous from the earnestness with which this was done by one of the native women who was listening. SPELLS (_Geasan no Geasaibh_). A person under spells is believed to become powerless over his own volition, is alive and awake, but moves and acts as if asleep. He is like St. John’s father, not able or not allowed to speak. He is compelled to go to certain places at certain hours or seasons, is sent wandering or is driven from his kindred and changed to other shapes. In nursery and winter evening tales (_sgialachdun ’us ur-sgeulun_) the machinery of spells is largely made use of. In the former class of tales they are usually imposed on king’s children by an old woman dwelling near the palace, called “Trouble-the-house” (_Eachrais ùrlair_, lit. confusion of the floor). Her house is the favourite place for the king’s children to meet their lovers. She has a divining rod (_slacan druidheachd_), by a blow from which she can convert people into rocks, seals, swans, wolves, etc., and this shape they must keep till they are freed by the same rod. Nothing else can deliver them from the spell. The story usually runs that the king is married a second time. His daughter by the first marriage is very handsome, and has a smooth comb (_cìr mhìn_) which makes her hair, when combed by it, shed gold and precious gems. The daughters by the second marriage are ugly and ill-natured. When they comb their hair there is a shower of fleas and frogs. Their mother bribes Trouble-the-house to lay spells on the daughter of the first marriage. Unless the princess enters the house the old woman is powerless to do this. One day the beautiful princess passes near the house, and is kindly and civilly asked to enter. “Come you in,” says the designing hag, “often did I lick the platters and pick the bones in your father’s house.”[87] Misled by this artful talk, the princess enters, is struck with the magic rod, and converted into a swan.