been flambing (anglice, basting) the roast of mutton. Her weapon was certainly the better, and her arm not the weakest of the two; so that Gilbert thought it safest to turn short off upon his wife, who had by this time hatched a sort of hysterical whine, which greatly moved the minister, who was in fact as simple and kind-hearted a creature as ever breathed.—"And you, ye thowless jadd, to sit still and see my substance disponed upon to an idle, drucken, reprobate, worm-eaten serving-man, just because he kittles the lugs o' a silly auld wife wi' useless clavers, and every twa words a lie?—I'll gar you as gude"
Here the minister interposed, both by voice and action, while Dame Lightbody threw herself in front of her daughter, and flourished her ladle.
"Am I no to chastise my ain wife?" said the cooper, very indignantly.
"Ye may chastise your ain wife if ye like," answered Dame Lightbody; "but
