The old man cast up his sharp grey eyes with a shrewd smile, as if he
understood the jest, but instantly continued, with his former gravity:
"Bridals--wha wad neglect bridals that had ony regard for plenishing
the earth? To be sure, they suld be celebrated with all manner of good
cheer, and meeting of friends, and musical instruments--harp,
sackbut, and psaltery; or gude fiddle and pipes, when these auld-warld
instruments of melody are hard to be compassed."
"The presence of the fiddle, I dare say," replied Ravenswood, "would
atone for the absence of all the others."
The sexton again looked sharply up at him, as he answered. "Nae
doubt--nae doubt, if it were weel played; but yonder," he said, as if
to change the discourse, "is Halbert Gray's lang hame, that ye were
speering after, just the third bourock beyond the muckle through-stane
that stands on sax legs yonder, abune some ane of the Ravenswoods; for
there is mony of their kin and followers here, deil lift them! though it
isna just their main burial-place."
"They are no favourites, then, of yours, these Ravenswoods?" said the
Master, no much pleased with the passing benediction which was thus
bestowed on his family and name.
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