"
"I fear," said the Master, "your supper will be a poor one; I hear
the matter in discussion betwixt Caleb and Mysie. Poor Balderstone is
something deaf, amongst his other accomplishments, so that much of what
he means should be spoken aside is overheard by the whole audience, and
especially by those from whom he is most anxious to conceal his private
manoeuvres. Hark!"
They listened, and heard the old domestic's voice in conversation with
Mysie to the following effect:
"Just mak the best o't--make the besto't, woman; it's easy to put a fair
face on ony thing."
"But the auld brood-hen? She'll be as teugh as bow-strings and
bend-leather!"
"Say ye made a mistake--say ye made a mistake, Mysie," replied the
faithful seneschal, in a soothing and undertoned voice; "tak it a' on
yoursell; never let the credit o' the house suffer."
"But the brood-hen," remonstrated Mysie--"ou, she's sitting some gate
aneath the dais in the hall, and I am feared to gae in in the dark for
the dogle; and if I didna see the bogle, I could as ill see the hen, for
it's pit-mirk, and there's no another light in the house, save that very
blessed lamp whilk the Master has in his ain hand.
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