"Aweel then, see here. This letter begins--'_My ain dear Wifie_,' ye mind?--'_My ain dear Wifie_'--and gaes on wi' a lot o' luve, and a' that, whilk I need na read, till ye. And it ends, look here--'_Your devoted husband_--ARONDELLE.' There! what do ye think o' that?" "I'm so astonished, ma'am, I don't know what to think." "But ye ken weel noo, that my gude mon wha ca'ed himsel' John Scott, was the Markiss o' Arondelle, and is noo the Dooke of Harewood?" "Yes, ma'am, I know that!--that is, if I'm awake and not dreaming," added the woman. "And ye ken weel that the Dooke of Harewood hae get me lappet up here in prison sae I canna get out to prevent him ha'eing his wicked will, in marrying the heiress o' Lone?" "I know that, too, ma'am--that is, if I'm not dreaming, as I said before," answered the bewildered old woman. "Aweel, noo, I canna get out to forestal this graund wickedness. The shamefu' villain took gude care to prevent that, but I can circumvent him, for a' that, gin ye will help me, Mrs. Brown. Will ye?" "You may be sure o' that, my poor young lady; for if things be as they seem, you have suffered much wrong," earnestly answered the woman. "Aweel, then, tak' my marritge lines, my letter, and this likeness o' my laird--and may the black de'il burn him in--" "Oh, my dear child, don't say that. It is dreadful. Tell me what I am to do with these papers and this picture." "First of a', ye'll be very carefu' o' 'em, and be sure to bring them back safe to me." "Yes, surely, my dear; but what am I to do with them?" "Ye'll get a cab, and tak' the papers and the picture to the bride's house, and ask to see the bride alone, on a matter o' life and death. And ye maun tak' nae denial. Ye maun see her, and tell her anent mysel' here, betrayed into prison sae I canna come to warn her. And show her my marritge lines, and my letter, and my laird's pictur'--the foul fien' fly awa' wi' him!--and tell her, gin she dinna believe them, to gae to the auld kirk o' St. Margaret's, Wes'minster, and look at the register, and see the minister, Mr. Smith, and the clerk, Mr. Jones, and the auld bodie, Mrs. Gray, and she'll find out anent it! Will ye do this for me?" "Yes, I will, my dear child." "Here is a half-sovereign then to pay for the cab hire. And, oh! be sure ye tak' unco gude care o' my papers! They's a' my fortun', ye ken." "Yes, indeed, I know how important they are to you, and I will bring them back safe," said the housekeeper, as she put the marriage certificate, the letter, the portrait, and the money in her pocket, and arose to leave the cell. "And noo, we'll see, an' I dinna bring ye to open shame, ye graund de'il!" exclaimed Rose. "I don't blame your anger, my poor dear, but don't use bad words. And now I am off. Good-day to you until I see you again," said the woman, as she left the cell.