Logan took two lighted candles, handing two to Merton, and the old woman led them upstairs to a room which occupied the whole front of the ancient 'peel,' or square tower, round which the rest of the house was built. The room was nearly bare of furniture, except for an old chair or two, a bureau, and a great old bed of state, facing the narrow deep window, and standing on a kind of dais, or platform of three steps. The heavy old green curtains were drawn all round it. Mrs. Bower opened them at the front and sides. At the back against the wall the curtains, embroidered with the arms of Restalrig, remained closed. 'I sat here all the night,' said Mrs. Bower, 'watching the corp that my hands had streikit. The candles were burning a' about him, the saut lay on his breast, only aefold o' linen covered him. My back was to the window, my face to his feet. I was crooning the auld dirgie; if it does nae guid, it does nae harm.' She recited in a monotone: 'When thou frae here away art past-- Every nicht and all-- To Whinny-muir thou comest at last, And Christ receive thy saul. 'If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon-- Every nicht and all-- Sit thee down and put them on, And Christ receive thy saul 'Alas, he never gave nane, puir man,' said the woman with a sob. At this moment the door of the chamber slowly opened. The woman turned and gazed at it, frowning, her lips wide apart. Logan went to the door, looked into the passage, closed the door and locked it; the key had to be turned twice, in the old fashion, and worked with a creaking jar. 'I had crooned thae last words, And Christ receive thy saul,