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〃How do you ken；〃 said she sharply； 〃that I might not have had a hundred punds of my ain fee？ If I have it not； I am sure it is my ain faut。 And I wunna ca' it faut neither； for it gaed to her wha was weel entitled to a' my service。〃 Again she pulled stoutly at the flax； and the wheel went smartly round。
〃This old gentleman；〃 said I； fixing my eye on the painted panel； 〃seems to have had HIS arms painted as well as Mr。 Treddlesthat is； if that painting in the corner be a scutcheon。〃
〃Ay； aycushion； just sae。 They maun a' hae their cushions there's sma' gentry without thatand so the arms； as they ca' them； of the house of Glentanner may be seen on an auld stane in the west end of the house。 But to do them justice； they didna propale sae muckle about them as poor Mr。 Treddles didit's like they were better used to them。〃
〃Very likely。 Are there any of the old family in life； goodwife？〃
〃No；〃 she replied； then added； after a moment's hesitation； 〃Not that I know of〃and the wheel； which had intermitted； began again to revolve。
〃Gone abroad； perhaps？〃 I suggested。
She now looked up； and faced me。 〃No； sir。 There were three sons of the last laird of Glentanner； as he was then called。 John and William were hopeful young gentlemen； but they died earlyone of a decline brought on by the mizzles； the other lost his life in a fever。 It would hae been lucky for mony ane that Chrystal had gane the same gate。〃
〃Oh； he must have been the young spendthrift that sold the property？ Well； but you should you have such an ill…will against him； remember necessity has no law。 And then； goodwife； he was not more culpable than Mr。 Treddles； whom you are so sorry for。〃
〃I wish I could think sae； sir； for his mother's sake。 But Mr。 Treddles was in trade； and though he had no preceese right to do so； yet there was some warrant for a man being expensive that imagined he was making a mint of money。 But this unhappy lad devoured his patrimony； when he kenned that he was living like a ratten in a Dunlap cheese； and diminishing his means at a' hands。 I canna bide to think on't。〃 With this she broke out into a snatch of a ballad； but little of mirth was there either in the tone or the expression：
〃For he did spend； and make an end Of gear that his forefathers wan； Of land and ware he made him bare； So speak nae mair of the auld gudeman。〃
〃Come； dame；〃 said I； 〃it is a long lane that has no turning。 I will not keep from you that I have heard something of this poor fellow； Chrystal Croftangry。 He has sown his wild oats； as they say； and has settled into a steady； respectable man。〃
〃And wha tell'd ye that tidings？〃 said she； looking sharply at me。
〃Not； perhaps； the best judge in the world of his character； for it was himself； dame。〃
〃And if he tell'd you truth； it was a virtue he did not aye use to practise；〃 said Christie。
〃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 recognize 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！ O 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。 He used to be proud enoughO dinna let him come here； even for his own sake。 He used once to have some pride。〃
Here she once more drew the wheel close to her； and began to pull at the flax with both hands。 〃Dinna let him come here； to be looked down upon by ony that may be left of his auld reiving companions； and to see the decent folk that he looked over his nose at look over their noses at him； baith at kirk and market。 Dinna let him come to his ain country； to be made a tale about when ony neighbour points him out to another； and tells what he is； and what he was； and how he wrecked a dainty estate； and brought harlots to the door…cheek of his father's house； till he made it nae residence for his mother； and how it had been foretauld by a servant of his ain house that he was a ne'er…do… weel and a child of perdition； and how her words were made good； and〃
〃Stop there； goodwife； if you please；〃 said I； 〃you have said as much as I can well remember； and more than it may be safe to repeat。 I can use a great deal of freedom with the gentleman we speak of； but I think； were any other person to carry him half of your message； I would scarce ensure his personal safety。 And now； as I see the night is settled to be a fine one； I will walk on to ； where I must meet a coach to…morrow as it passes to Edinburgh。〃
So saying； I paid my moderate reckoning； and took my leave； without being able to discover whether the prejudiced and hard… hearted old woman did； or did not； suspect the identity of her guest with the Chrystal Croftangry against whom she harboured so much dislike。
The night was fine and frosty； though； when I pretended to see what its character was； it might have rained like the deluge。 I only made the excuse to escape from old Christie Steele。 The horses which run races in the Corso at Rome without any riders； in order to stimulate their exertion； carry each his own spurs namely； small balls of steel； with sharp； projecting spikes； which are attached to loose straps of leather； and； flying about in the violence of the agitation； keep the horse to his speed by pricking him as they strike against his flanks。 The old woman's reproaches had the same effect on me； and urged me to a rapid pace； as if it had been possible to escape from my own recollections。 In the best days of my life； when I won one or two hard walking matches； I doubt if I ever walked so fast as I did betwixt the Treddles Arms and the borough town for which I was bound。 Though the night was cold； I was warm enough by the time I got to my inn； and it required a refreshing draught of porter； with half an hour's repose； ere I could determine to give no further thought to Christie and her opinions than those of any other vulgar； prejudiced old woman。 I resolved at last to treat the thing EN BAGATELLE； and calling for writing materials； I folded up a cheque for L100； with these lines on the envelope：
〃Chrystal； the ne'er…do…weel； Child destined to the deil； Sends this to Christie Steele。〃
And I w