``The devil!'' said I, considerably nettled;
``all the world held him to be a man of honour.''
``Ay, ay! he would hae shot onybody wi' his
pistols and his guns, that had evened him to be a
liar. But if he promised to pay an honest tradesman
the next term-day, did he keep his word then?
And if he promised a puir silly lass to make gude
her shame, did he speak truth then? And what
is that, but being a liar, and a black-hearted deceitful
liar to boot?''
My indignation was rising, but I strove to suppress
it; indeed, I should only have afforded my
tormentor a triumph by an angry reply. I partly
suspected she began to recognise me; yet she testified
so little emotion, that I could not think my
suspicion well founded. I went on, therefore, to
say, in a tone as indifferent as I could command,
``Well, goodwife, I see you will believe no good
of this Chrystal of yours, till he comes back and
buys a good farm on the estate, and makes you his
housekeeper.''
The old woman dropped her thread, folded her
hands, as she looked up to heaven with a face of
apprehension. ``The Lord,'' she exclaimed, ``forbid!
The Lord in his mercy forbid! Oh, sir! if
you really know this unlucky man, persuade him
to settle where folk ken the good that you say
he has come to, and dinna ken the evil of his former
days.
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