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lowing his sons, who had by this time disengaged the gate from the posts, to which it had been attached by an old cord of many knots.
While Mr Stewart had been engaging the farmer's wife in conversation at the door, his daughter had been earnestly exhorting Mrs Mason to return to Gowanbrae, and to give up all thoughts of remaining in a situation in which she could not probably enjoy any degree of comfort; but her arguments made no impression. Mrs Mason adhered inflexibly to her resolution of making a trial of the place; and, on Mrs MacClarty's entrance, begged to see the room she was to occupy.
"That you sal," said Mrs MacClarty; "but, indeed, it's no in sic order as I could wish, for it's cram fou o' woo': it was put in there the day of the sheep-shearing, and we have never ta'en the fash to put it by; for, as I said before, we did not expect my cousin till after the
