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mak a drap broth to them, and a wee thought dreepins to the bargain; so let's hear nae mair blethers about what's ower now, and canna be helped."

"As ye say," replied the woman, pocketing her spoils, which would have paid for half the eggs in her basket-" as ye say, weans are to my thought the plentiest thing in this world; and I hae my ain share o' them; but I'll think nae mair o' the mischance that has happened; I doubtna ye didna expect that the candlestick would light among my eggs."

"I wish, wife," said Martha, in a grumbling tone, as she witnessed the gradual disappearance of what she considered her own lawful perquisites, " I wish you would take yoursell aff; for if the leddy comes down she'll no be pleased, for she disna like folk to be snoking in her kitchen."

"I'm just as keen to gang as ye're to bid me," replied the woman, snatching up her basket. "Gude day to ye; and may ye

be mair ceevil to the next decent body that comes in your way."

"Gude day to ye indeed, ye auld sneeveling deevil!" said Martha, as she banged the door after her ;-"I wish the beef may stick in your throat and choke ye! If it hadna been for that jaud's dirty candlestick, my good kitchen-fee would ne'er have gane to fill up that randy tinkler's hungry weans. She would think nae mair o' the mischance wi' her tale! Deil mean her! a lucky mischance it's been for her and her rotten dirt o' eggs."

"Martha," said William, coming into the kitchen, “you must come this moment to Sir Thomas, he is in a dreadful passion about the coals. To my mind he is worse than ever."

"Ne'er fash your thumb about his passion, it's no gaun to hurt you. I'll gang up to him; I hae gotten the gate o' him now; but mind ye maun stick to it that they are no the Cochranes' coals; threep that, and there's nae fear o' us."

Thus counselled, William followed the resolute Martha into the presence of their master. "I am determined," exclaimed Sir Thomas, as soon as they appeared, "I am fully resolved to know the truth of this affair."

"What affair?" said Martha, with the greatest coolness.

"What affair!" replied the enraged baronet; "have you the audacity to ask that question, when it is all owing to your unpardonable carelessness that the family have been a whole day without coals?"

"Is that it ?" rejoined Martha; "'deed, then, ye maun blame John Purdie for that, and no me; for I can tak my Bible oath, and Willie there can prove it, that I tellt John Purdie four days sin' syne that we had naething but a wheen dross, which, ye ken, you'll no thole on the dining-room fire; and says I to John, ye are to bring a cart o' coals immediately, for ye ken, says I, as weel as me, that Sir Thomas ne'er could bide to wait for naething; and says he—”

"Have done, woman, with your says I's

and says he's," exclaimed the baronet, transported with indignation at the tone of familiarity with which she presumed to address him," and tell me at once whether it is you or this John Purdie who is in fault."

"I tell you true, sir, and I'm no leeing, that the faut's John's; but he has brought them now, for the cart stopped at the backdoor just as ye cried me up, so ye'll get your fire mended in a jiffy.”

"Were there no coals borrowed from the Cochranes?" inquired Sir Thomas, who had some doubts of Martha's veracity on this point; "William told me that you

had gone there for a supply."

"Then William tellt you a lee; for, as sure as I am standing on the floor, ne'er a bit o' coal did I borrow frae the Cochranes this blessed day. I ken better than that, when your honour has gien sic strict conjuctions that nane o' us are to borrow naething frae our neebors."

Very well," said Sir Thomas, " since Mr John Purdie has behaved in this shame

ful manner he shall be dismissed-Let me know the instant he comes."

At this unlucky moment the ill-starred John Purdie passed the house; and Sir Thomas, who caught a glimpse of him, went himself to the window and called him in.

"I am sorry, sir," said John, "that I couldna bring ony coals the day, but I will hae a cart doun by the gloaming."

"How!" vociferated Sir Thomas; you not bring coals here just now ?" "No, sir,” replied John.

"did

William looked at Martha, as much as to say, we are ruined; but the cook retained full possession of herself.

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Pray," inquired Sir Thomas," when were you desired to bring coals?"

"He kens very weel," replied Martha, at the same time giving John a look which he seemed perfectly to comprehend," he kens very weel that it's four days and mair since I tellt him to bring coals."

"Hold your tongue this moment," said

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