"I hae been seventy years on the land," said one.
"I and mine hae been seventy and seventy to that," said another; "I have a right to ken the glance of a Bertram."
"I and mine hae been three hundred years here," said another old man, "and I sail sell my last cow, but I'll see the young laird in his right."
The women, ever delighted with the marvellous, and not less so when a handsome young man is the subject of the tale, added their shrill acclamations to the general all-hail. "Blessings on him—he's the very picture o' his father!—the Bertrams were aye the wale o' the country side!"
"Eh! that his puir mother, that died in grief and in doubt about him, had but lived to see this day!" exclaimed some voices.
"But we'll help him to his ain, kimmers," cried others; "and before Glossin sail keep the Place of Ellangowan, we'll howk him out o't wi' our nails!"
Others crowded around Dinmont, who
