"
"Reasonable charges!" said the sexton; "ou, there's grundmail--and
bell-siller, though the bell's broken, nae doubt--and the kist--and my
day's wark--and my bit fee--and some brandy and yill to the dirgie, I am
no thinking that you can inter her, to ca' decently, under saxteen pund
Scots."
"There is the money, my friend," said Ravenswood, "and something over.
Be sure you know the grave."
"Ye'll be ane o' her English relations, I'se warrant," said the hoary
man of skulls; "I hae heard she married far below her station. It was
very right to let her bite on the bridle when she was living, and it's
very right to gie her a secent burial now she's dead, for that's a
matter o' credit to yoursell rather than to her. Folk may let their
kindred shift for themsells when they are alive, and can bear the burden
fo their ain misdoings; but it's an unnatural thing to let them be
buried like dogs, when a' the discredit gangs to the kindred. What kens
the dead corpse about it?"
"You would not have people neglect their relations on a bridal occasion
neither?" said Ravenswood, who was amused with the professional
limitation of the grave-digger's philanthropy.
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