that wanted to make mischief between you and him made ye believe that story. But I will shut the door, and tell ye what brought him here."

So saying, Peggy fastened the door, and sat down beside her father. "Willie bids me tell ye that the Laird of Calder has got word that ye hae smuggled whisky hid in the corn-stack, and that twa gaugers will be here soon the morn to look for it, and that, if any be found, ye'll be what they ca' exchequered, and hae to pay a dreadfu' fine, and maybe hae the tack o' the mill ta'en frae ye."

"And wha," cried the wife, "could tell such an evendown lie? Your father, Peggy, has mair sense than to do such a thing."

"Whisht, gudewife," said the miller; "it's ower true."

"Preserve us a'!" said Janet; "I canna believe it. Robin, it's no like you."

Indeed," said Robin, "I did it out o' nae ill: but twa puir deevils came to me the other night, just as I was locking up the mill, and asked me to let them hide four bit kegs o' whisky, as the gaugers had got scent o't; and that, if I wouldna agree to it, they would be ruined, and they had sma' families. To make a lang story short, they wrought upon me to let them put it into the corn-stack; but it was no to benefit me. Wha could tell surprises me, for Andrew was in the stable."

He was nae such thing," said Peggy. "He was nearer than ye thought, and heard every word; and to be revenged on you for no letting him to the last fair, he gave information to the laird's grieve, Saunders M'Ilhose, and he to the excisemen. Now, father," continued Peggy, “William is waiting at the back of the laigh dike, to see what ye mean to do. He says he kens a cozie place to hide it in; but he advises you to get Andrew out of the way first."

Andrew, having given the miller's horse his supper, now came in for his own; and the miller having reverently asked a blessing, they all sat down to their evening meal. When they had finished, the miller drew out his large silver watch, which had descended for many generations from father to son, and said, Andrew, I quite forgot to send poor Nelly Morrison her twa pecks o' meal, and she will be ill aff for a pickle to mak her bairns' parritch in the morning. It's no very late, and the night's fme, so ye may just step down with it."

"Will ye tell me," cried the miller, “that ye ken my affairs better than I do mysell? I wonder how ye would like to want your par ritch in the morning? No very weel, I'm thinking."

"I saw Nelly," said Andrew, "twa days since, and she told me she wadna want the meal till Monday, and I'll stand to it."

"Dinna gang to argle-bargle wi' me," said the miller, in a rage. "If ye refuse to obey your master's lawfu' commands, I'll bring ye before the justices the first court-day.”

'Ither folks as weel as me may be there before they reckon on't."

"Do you mean to threaten me?" cried the miller, raising his voice.

Andrew, now finding that he had gone quite far enough, thought it prudent to draw in a little, and said he did not absolutely refuse to take the meal, but that it was very hard to be sent out at night after working all day. He then threw the bag across his shoulder, and set off in a very bad humour, consigning Nelly, the meal, and the miller, to the bottom of the Clyde.

As soon as Andrew was out of sight, the miller desired Peggy to bring in William, that he might consult with him as to what was best to be done before Andrew's return,—an order which Peggy obeyed with the greatest alacrity. "Come awa, Willie," said the miller, "you ha been a true friend to me this night, and ye shall find that Robin Baillie is no the man to forget a good turn."

"You are welcome, miller," said William mildly, "to ony good turn I can do ye. I will tell ye some other time how I found out what was brewing against ye; but let us work first, and get the whisky out o' the way.”

The miller having assented, they each took a large sack, and having made an equal division of the kegs, they pursued their way silently and cautiously to the magnificent ruins of Calder Castle. As they approached it the moon shone forth in unclouded majesty, giving to their view a scene of desolate sublimity.

William, having asked the miller whether he would enter the ruins with him or wait without till he had deposited the whisky, or finding he greatly preferred the last proposal, went in alone, and having concealed the keg. returned to the miller, and they both rapidly retraced their steps.

Early next morning the family was roused by a loud knocking at the door. "Wha's there?" cried the miller; in reply to which question a voice was heard demanding admittance on the authority of a warrant—“It's a strange thing," said the miller, "to hear speak

o' a warrant at this door; but take time, and it shall be opened to you."-The miller and his family being now dressed, Robin set the door wide open, and civilly asked his visitors to walk in.

Two excisemen now entered, one a tall, grim-looking personage, the other a little, good-humoured, smiling body, who took upon himself the office of spokesman. -"He was sorry," he said, "to disturb Mr. Baillie and his family; but having received instructions to search his premises for smuggled whisky, they were under the necessity of doing their duty."-The miller, feeling very much at his ease, accompanied them through his house, opened every door and every press; and when they were satisfied all was right within, they proceeded to the mill, the stable, and the byre; but nothing like a keg was to be seen.

'Miller," said the tall man, "giving a glance at his little companion, "we have seen nothing here but what an honest man should have; but you'll no be angry if we look into your stack. We heard some clavers that there was more than corn there;-not," continued he, with a look of ill-concealed triumph, "that we believe the half of the stories we hear, but we must neglect nothing.'

"Wi' a' my heart," cried Robin. "I'll help you to tak it down."

The excisemen did not understand this; but to work they went. Great was the astonishment of Andrew, when, on looking out of the stable-window, he saw the miller laughing away with the two excisemen. Greater still was his dismay on finding the stack strictly examined, but no whisky found. The excisemen, seeing there was no hope of a seizure here, now offered to take their departure; but the miller invited them in to take their breakfast; to which proposal, on consulting their appetites, they willingly assented.

On entering the kitchen the little man seated himself near the fire, and amused himself by watching Peggy's motions, who twirled the spurtle in the porridge-pan in a most dexterous manner. He could not resist complimenting her upon her comely face and neat figure, and we must do Peggy the justice to say that she accepted his homage with all the nonchalance of a thorough-bred beauty.

"I see

66

done, lassie," said her little admirer.
you hae aye your answer ready.'
said her mother, gravely,
and bring ben the milk."

Peggy," "dish the parritch,

Peggy, having first covered the table with a snow-white table-cloth, began to set out the breakfast, of which a sweet-milk cheese, scones and bannocks, and excellent oatmeal porridge, formed the principal part. "We have not got into the fashion of taking tea yet," said the miller: "so ye must just do without it for a morning." Both these important personages declared that, although they generally breakfasted on tea, the more substantial articles now before them would be a pleasant change.

The miller now desired Peggy to call in Andrew,- —a summons he obeyed very rapidly, being extremely anxious to know how matters stood with their new visitors. He drew in his stool to the table, but kept a profound silence, and lifted his eyes as seldom as possible. When breakfast was finished, and the miller had returned thanks, the excisemen prepared to depart; but the miller forbid them to stir till they had tasted his whisky, which he assured them, with a hearty laugh, was not smuggled. The miller took a bumper himself, and, after drinking to their better acquaintance, he handed the bottle to his guests, who pledged him with great good-will.

The miller, understanding that they were going to the other side of the river, offered to take them across the ford in his cart, as he was going that way for coals, and it would save them going round by the bridge. His offer was most gratefully accepted, and Andrew was sent to put plenty of straw in the cart, and to harness the horse; which being done, the miller and his companions took their way to the ford.

On coming to the edge of the water the miller jumped down, saying his horse was not very fond of the water, and that he would lead him; and desiring the men to sit well down to the bottom of the cart, they proceeded very smoothly till they reached the deepest part of the stream, when Robin quietly took out the pin which held down his vehicle. Up went the cart into the air-down went the excisemen into the water! The tall gentleman caught hold of the wheel of the cart; the little one was not so fortunate: the current hurried him rapidly down; and if the miller had not seized his coat, there is no saying how this exploit might have terminated. He drew him to the bank, and laid him on the grass, to give him an opportunity of refunding the liquid he had

66

In a few minutes Saunders gave a loud knock. He waited a little while, and then knocked louder. "Rap away," said Peggy softly. 'Mrs. Baillie," cried Saunders in a loud key, are you in?" Still no reply. He then tried the back-door, but was just as unsuccessful. Saunders thought this very odd, as he was sure that he had seen a female figure in the garden at the back of the house, as he came up. On returning to the front Saunders observed the mill-door open, and he proceeded to see who was there.

He found only Andrew, who appeared to be extremely busy. "What's come o' a' the family?" said Saunders; "I hae been rapping at the door this half hour, and nobody has answered." "I ken naething about them," replied Andrew; "I have enough to do here, without putting off my time glowring after them." There's nae need, man," cried Saunders, "to be sae short. I asked but a civil question. Heard ye if the excisemen were here this morning?" "Yes, they were here," said Andrew, in a sulky tone. "And did they get the whisky?" "Deil a drap, but wha took it away is a wonder to me; for I can gie my aith it was in the stack twa days ago.' "I hope, friend,' said Saunders, in a cajoling tone, "ye'll no tell the miller that I had ony hand in gieing information to the laird? I wadna like to get his ill-will." "As little wud I," said Andrew. "Did you ever see him in a real passion?" "No," replied Saunders. 'A rampaging bear is naething to him."

The sound of Robin's cart now broke off the conference, and Saunders went out to meet the miller. "Preserve us a'!" cried Peggy, "if there's no my father, and Saunders wi' him! I must open the door now.'

Before doing so, however, she let William out at the back-door, and then putting on her bonnet, as if she had just come in, she opened the door to her father. "What for is the door bolted at this time o' day?" said the miller. "My mother bid me; she said there were sae mony idle folk going about." (Here Peggy cast a glum look at Saunders.) "I fancy," said Saunders, "ye were out, for I rappit a lang while baith at the fore and the back door.

To this observation Peggy did not deign the least reply; but deliberately taking off her bonnet, she laid it aside, and began to prepare the dinner. "Is the broth ready?" said Robin. "No," answered Peggy; "it's hardly time yet." "Sit down, Saunders, at the fireside," said the miller; "ye maun stay and tak your kail wi' us. When I hae put the horse in the stable I will come back to you."

VOL. II.

Peggy, pretending to be busy in the spence, left Saunders to his own meditations. To provoke him she struck up the old song of "The Carle he came o'er the Craft;" and he observed, with no very pleasant feelings, that she laid a particular emphasis on the words, "Hout awa, I winna hae him." This would have daunted most lovers; but Saunders, having great faith in the effects of patience and perseverance, still continued his suit, for Peggy was worth the winning. She was the bonniest lassie in the parish,-lively, active, and goodhumoured,-an excellent housewife, excelled by none in the management of the dairy;and, to sum up all, she was the miller's only child, and would have a good tocher. Possessed of so many attractions, it will easily be believed that pretty Peggy had many lovers. Saunders, seeing that Peggy was inclined to favour William Stewart, had contrived to set him and the miller at variance; and after having accomplished this point, he spoke to the miller of his great love for Peggy,-promised to ask no tocher down, and to keep two servants for her, that she might sit like a lady, and never wet her finger; and he would dress her as fine as any woman in the parish. To all these proffers of preferment Peggy turned a deaf ear. She balanced for a moment-a cotton gown with William Stewart, or a silk one with Saunders M'Ilhose. On these occasians Saunders, in spite of his superior weight, invariably kicked the beam.

As the laird of Calder Hall was rather a fractious personage, and as Saunders had a good deal of influence with him, Robin thought it as well to be on good terms with the grieve, and he had positively enjoined Peggy to be civil to him; and Peggy, not wishing to irritate her father, had avoided everything like open war; but, woman-like, she contrived to give him much uneasiness, whilst she was apparently treating him with the respect due to so great a personage.

The miller, having returned to the kitchen, now called on Peggy to come and give them their dinner; and just as all was ready, Mrs. Baillie entered. "How are ye, Mr. M'Ilhose?" said she. There has been a fine day for getting in the corn." "No that ill, no that ill, Mrs. Baillie; but ye've been out; it's no often that you tak the road." "I hae ower muckle to do at hame. Our servant Annie has gane to see her friends, and we didna think it worth while to get ony body in her place for a' the time."

Peggy having summoned Andrew, they all drew their seats to the table, Peggy taking 37