"Ah! Sir, the witch ca'd Mause, That wins aboon the mill amang the haws, First promised that she'd help me wi' her art, To gain a bonnie thrawart[27] lassie's heart. As she had trysted, I met wi' 'er this night; But may nae frien o' mine get such a fright! For the curst hag, instead of doing me guid, (The very thocht o'ts like to freeze my bluid!) Raised up a ghaist, or deil, I kenna whilk, Like a dead corse, in sheet as white as milk; Black hands it had, and face as wan as death; Upon me fast the witch and it fell baith, And got me down; while I like a great fool Was 'laboured[28] as I used to be at school: My heart out o' its hool[29] was like to loup, I pithless[30] grew wi' fear, an' had nae houp, Till wi' an elritch laugh, they vanished quite; Syne I, hauf dead wi' anger, fear and spite, Crap up, and fled straught frae them." [Footnote 27: Wayward.] [Footnote 28: Belabored.] [Footnote 29: Place or socket.] [Footnote 30: Powerless.] Tidings had arrived that Sir William, who had now been absent several years, might be expected home, as the king was restored and the royal party was now predominant. This tidings created the liveliest sensations of joy among Sir William's tenantry, as he was much beloved for his kindness and generosity of disposition. Old Symon Scott and Glaude Anderson were especially delighted, and resolved, each of them, to celebrate the event with a feast. Symon however had already begun to make preparations for a banquet, to which he invited Glaude and all the old and young people of the neighborhood: "It's Symon's house, please to step in, And vissy't[31] round and round, There's nought superfluous to gie pain, Or costly to be found. Yet a' is clean--a clear peat ingle[32] Glances amidst the floor[33]; The green horn spoons, beech luggies[34] mingle On skelfs[35] foregainst the door. While the young brood sport on the green, The auld anes think it best, Wi' the brown cow[36] to clear their een Snuff, crack and tak their rest." [Footnote 31: Examine it.] [Footnote 32: A fire of peats.] [Footnote 33: In Scotland the old peasant houses have the fire in their centre.] [Footnote 34: Cups of beech wood.] [Footnote 35: Shelves opposite the door.] [Footnote 36: Brown ale.] While they are engaged Sir William appears among the young people on the green, in the garb of a fortune teller. Jenny runs into the house and tells her father, who, particularly good-natured and hospitable at such an hour, replies:-- "Gae bring him in; we'll hear what he can say, Nane shall gae hungry by my house the day. [_Exit Jenny._ But for his telling fortunes, troth I fear He kens nae mair o' that than my grey mare. _Glaud._--Spae men![37] the truth o' a' their saws I doubt, For greater lears never ran thereout.