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the ony thing wrang at hame, that ye hae come here sae sune in the morning?" "Wrang!" quo' Janet, (dichtin' her een wi' the tail o'her apron,) "a's wrang thegither, my lady; is na oor habbie deed?" "Habbie deed!" quo' the lady in surprise. "A weel a wat, is he," quo' Janet, "an'a sair trial it is to me, lady, for there no as muckle in the house this morning as wad feed a sparrow; an' whar to get onything, I'm sure I dinna ken. Oh dear! oh dear! that ever it should come to this o't." "Compose yersel'. Janet," quo' the lady, "and come yer wa's ben an' we's see what can be dune." Sae in gangs Janet wi' the lady, an' gets a basket wi' some biscuits and speerits, an' ither articles needfu' for sic an occasion; an' thanking the lady for her kindness, comes awa hame to Habbie fu' blithely, whan doon they sat; nor did they rise till they made an end to the contents o' the basket. Noo, as the auld sang sings, the mair ye drink, the drier ye turn, for they were nae sunner done, than Habbie says, "Losh Janet, that was real guid; can yo no get some mair o't. "Na, na," quo' Janet, "I hae played ma part; it's your turn noo." "Oh! very weel," quo' Habbie, "if it's my turn noo, ye maun jist be deed next." "Od, I hao nae objections,' quo' she; "sae awa ye gang and let us see what ye can do " Weel, awa gangs Habbie, and meeting the Laird just coming hame frae a hunting party, he says, "this is a fine day, Laird." "A fine day, Habbie,' quo' the Laird: "hoo is a' wi' ye? are ye no coming up to play us a spring on the pipes the nicht?" "It wadna leuk verra weel, Laird, for to be seen playing on the pipes at your house, and my ain wife lying a corpse at hame." "What! is Janet deed?" quo' the Laird. “Atweel is she' quo' Habbie; "and I'm sure it couldna hae happent on a
