There was still another object in the apartment well worthy of the attention of him who entered--it was the damsel who stood at the bedside; but then she stood with her back to Isaac, so that he could not see her face, and at the sound of his voice, she drew her cloak over her head, and retired behind the bed, sobbing so, that her bosom seemed like to rend. The cloak was similar to the one worn that day by old Isaac, for, be it remembered, he had not the gaudy tartan one about him, but the russet grey plaid made to him by his beloved daughter. Isaac saw the young woman retiring behind the bed, and heard her weeping; but a stroke like that of electricity seemed to have affected the nerves of all the rest of the family on the entrance of the good old man, so that his attention was attracted by those immediately under his eye. The mother and daughter whispered to each other in great perplexity. Old Gawin rose from his knees; and not knowing well what to say or do, he diligently wiped the dust from the knee-caps of his corduroy breeches, even descending to the minutiæ of scraping away some specks more adhesive than the rest, with the nail of his mid finger. No one welcomed the old man, and the dying youth in the bed grumbled these bitter words, "I see now on what errand Ellen was sent! Confound your officiousness!" "No, Graham, you are mistaken. The child was at T----r to meet the carrier for your drogs," said old Gawin. "Poh! poh! all of a piece with the rest of the stuff you have told me. Come hither, Ellen, and let me see what the doctor has sent."--The girl came near, and gave some vials with a sealed direction. "So you got these at T----r, did you?" "Yes, I got them from Jessy Clapperton; the carrier was away." "Lying imp! who told you to say that? Answer me!"--The child was mute and looked frightened.--"Oh! I see how it is! You have done very well, my dear, very cleverly, you give very fair promise. Get me some clothes, pray--I will try if I can leave this house." "Alas, my good friends, what is this?" said Isaac; "the young man's reason, I fear, is wavering. Good Gawin, why do you not give me your hand? I am extremely sorry for your son's great bodily sufferings, and for what you and your family must suffer mentally on his account. How are you?" "Right weel, sir--as weel as may be expected," said Gawin, taking old Isaac's hand, but not once lifting his eyes from the ground to look the good man in the face. "And how are you, good dame?" continued Isaac, shaking hands with the old woman. "Right weel, thanks t'ye, sir. It is a cauld day this. Ye'll be cauld?" "Oh no, I rather feel warm." "Ay, ye have a comfortable plaid for a day like this; a good plaid it is."