''
There was something grave and mysterious in
Donald's sun-browned countenance when he gave
us this intimation, and his manner was so different
from his usual frankness, that my female curiosity
was set in motion. We walked on the whilst, and
I found the tree, of which we had now lost sight
by the intervention of some rising ground, was
really more distant than I had at first supposed.
``I could have sworn now,'' said I to my cicerone,
``that yon tree and waterfall was the very place
where you intended to make a stop to-day.''
``The Lord forbid!'' said Donald, hastily.
``And for what, Donald? why should you be
willing to pass so pleasant a spot?''
``It's ower near Dalmally, my leddy, to corn the
beasts---it would bring their dinner ower near their
breakfast, poor things:---an', besides, the place is
not canny.''
``Oh! then the mystery is out. There is a bogle
or a brownie, a witch or a gyre-carlin, a bodach or
a fairy, in the case?''
``The ne'er a bit, my leddy---ye are clean aff
the road, as I may say. But if your leddyship will
just hae patience, and wait till we are by the place
and out of the glen, I'll tell ye all about it. There
is no much luck in speaking of such things in the
place they chanced in.
Pages:
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224