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and if Mary was not the prettiest girl in the parish (illegible text)least Duncan and I believed her to be so, which,(illegible text) us, amounted to the same thing. We often compared the other girls in the parish with one another as(illegible text) their beauty and accomplishments, but to think (illegible text) comparing any of them with Mary, was entirely out of the question. She was, indeed, the emblem of truth, simplicity, and innocence, and if there were more beautiful, there were still fewer so good (illegible text) amiable; but still as she advanced in years, she got fonder and fonder of being near Duncan; and by the time she was nineteen, was so deeply in love, that affected her manner, her spirits, and her health. (illegible text) one time she was gay and frisky as a kitten; would dance, sing, and laugh violently at the (illegible text) trivial incidents. At other times she was silent (illegible text) sad, while a languishing softness overspread her (illegible text)tures, and added greatly to her charms. The pas(illegible text) was undoubtedly mutual between them; but Duncan either, from a sense of honour or some other ca(illegible text) never declared himself farther on the subject. than the most respectful attention and tender assiduite.
About forty years ago the flocks of southern sheep which have since that period inundated the Highlands had not found their way over the Grampian mountains and the native flocks of that sequestered country (illegible text) so scanty, that it was found, necessary to transport small quantities of wool annually to the north, to (illegible text)ish materials for clothing the inhabitants. D(illegible text) two months of each summer, the hill countries o(illegible text) Lowlands were inundated by hundreds of women t{illegible} the Highlands, who bartered small articles of d(illegible text) and of domestic import, for wool: these were known by, the appelation of norlen netties and few (illegible text) passed, during the wool season, that some of (illegible text) were not lodged at my father’s house. It was two of these that Duncan learned one day wh(illegible text) what he was; that he was the laird of Glenellich
