And
Lady Ashton has hell-fire burning in her breast by this time; and Sir
William, wi' his gibbets, and his faggots, and his chains, how likes he
the witcheries of his ain dwelling-house?"
"And is it true, then," mumbled the paralytic wretch, "that the bride
was trailed out of her bed and up the chimly by evil spirits, and that
the bridegroom's face was wrung round ahint him?"
"Ye needna care wha did it, or how it was done," said Aislie Gourlay;
"but I'll uphaud it for nae stickit job, and that the lairds and leddies
ken weel this day."
"And was it true," said Annie Winnie, "sin ye ken sae muckle about it,
that the picture of auld Sir Malise Ravenswood came down on the ha'
floor, and led out the brawl before them a'?"
"Na," said Ailsie; "but into the ha' came the picture--and I ken weel
how it came there--to gie them a warning that pride wad get a fa'. But
there's as queer a ploy, cummers, as ony o' thae, that's gaun on even
now in the burial vault yonder: ye saw twall mourners, wi' crape and
cloak, gang down the steps pair and pair!"
"What should ail us to see them?" said the one old woman.
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