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〃Na！ ye manna flee to Sandy for a thing； ye are no a bairn； are ye？〃
Here was a dilemma； the Saunders prop knocked rudely away； and obliged to
think for ourselves。
But Saunders would come to his distressed master's assistance。 He
furtively conveyed to him a plump bookthis was Saunders's manual of
faith； the author was Mr。 Burke； not Edmund。
Lord Ipsden ran hastily over the page； closed the book； and said； 〃Here
is the story。
〃Five hundred years ago〃
〃Listen； Jean；〃 said Christie； 〃we're gaun to get a boeny story。 'Five
hundre' years ago；'〃 added she； with interest and awe。
〃Was a great battle；〃 resumed the narrator； in cheerful tones； as one
larking with history； 〃between a king of England and his rebels。 He was
in the thick of the fight〃
〃That's the king； Jean； he was in the thick o't。〃
〃My ancestor killed a fellow who was sneaking behind him； but the next
moment a man…at…arms prepared a thrust at his majesty； who had his hands
full with three assailants。〃
〃Eh！ that's no fair；〃 said Christie； 〃as sure as deeth。〃
〃My ancestor dashed forward； and； as the king's sword passed through one
of them； he clove another to the waist with a blow。〃
〃Weel done！ weel done！〃
Lord Ipsden looked at the speaker； her eyes were glittering； and her
cheek flushing。
〃Good Heavens！〃 thought he； 〃she believes it！〃 So he began to take more
pains with his legend。
〃But for the spearsman；〃 continued he； 〃he had nothing but his body； he
gave it； it was his duty； and received the death leveled at his
sovereign。〃
〃Hech！ puir mon。〃 And the glowing eyes began to glisten。
〃The battle flowed another way； and God gave victory to the right； but
the king came back to look for him； for it was no common service。〃
〃Deed no！〃
Here Lord Ipsden began to turn his eye inward； and call up the scene。 He
lowered his voice。
〃They found him lying on his back； looking death in the face。
〃The nobles； by the king's side； uncovered as soon as he was found； for
they were brave men； too。 There was a moment's silence； eyes met eyes；
and said； this is a stout soldier's last battle。
〃The king could not bid him live。〃
〃Na！ lad； King Deeth has ower strong a grrip。〃
〃But he did what kings can do； he gave him two blows with his royal
sword。〃
〃Oh； the robber； and him a deeing mon。〃
〃Two words from his royal mouth； and he and we were Barons of Ipsden and
Hawthorn Glen from that day to this。〃
〃But the puir dying creature？〃
〃What poor dying creature？〃
〃Your forbear； lad。〃
〃I don't know why you call him poor； madam； all the men of that day are
dust； they are the gold dust who died with honor。
〃He looked round； uneasily； for his sonfor he had but oneand when
that son knelt； unwounded； by him； he said； 'Goodnight； Baron Ipsden；'
and so he died； fire in his eye； a smile on his lip； and honor on his
name forever。 I meant to tell you a lie； and I've told you the truth。〃
〃Laddie；〃 said Christie； half admiringly； half reproachfully； 〃ye gar the
tear come in my een。 Hech！ look at yon lassie！ how could you think t'eat
plums through siccan a bonny story？〃
〃Hets；〃 answered Jean； who had； in fact； cleared the plate； 〃I aye listen
best when my ain mooth's stappit。〃
〃But see； now；〃 pondered Christie； 〃twa words fra a kingthir titles are
just breeth。〃
〃Of course；〃 was the answer。 〃All titles are。 What is popularity？ ask
Aristides and Lamartinethe breath of a mobsmells of its sourceand
is gone before the sun can set on it。 Now the royal breath does smell of
the Rose and Crown； and stays by us from age to age。〃
The story had warmed our marble acquaintance。 Saunders opened his eyes；
and thought； 〃We shall wake up the House of Lords some evening_we_
shall。〃
His lordship then added； less warmly； looking at the girls：
〃I think I should like to be a fisherman。〃
So saying； my lord yawned slightly。
To this aspiration the young fishwives deigned no attention； doubting；
perhaps； its sincerity； and Christie； with a shade of severity； inquired
of him how he came to be a vile count。
〃A baron's no' a vile count； I'm sure；〃 said she； 〃sae tell me how ye
came to be a vile count。〃
〃Ah！〃 said he； 〃that is by no means a pretty story like the other； you
will not like it； I am sure。
〃Ay； will Iay； will I； I'm aye seeking knoewledge。〃
〃Well； it is soon told。 One of us sat twenty years on one seat； in the
same house； so one day he got up aviscount。〃
〃Ower muckle pay for ower little wark。〃
〃Now don't say that； I wouldn't do it to be Emperor of Russia。〃
〃Aweel； I hae gotten a heap out o' ye； sae noow I'll gang； since ye are
no for herrin'； come away； Jean。〃
At this their host remonstrated； and inquired why bores are at one's
service night and day； and bright people are always in a hurry； he was
informed in reply； 〃Labor is the lot o' man。 Div ye no ken that muckle？
And abune a' o' women。〃*
* A local idea； I suspect。C。 R。
〃Why； what can two such pretty creatures have to do except to be
admired？〃
This question coming within the dark beauty's scope； she hastened to
reply。
〃To sell our herrin'we hae three hundre' left in the creel。〃
〃What is the price？〃
At this question the poetry died out of Christie Johnstone's face； she
gave her companion a rapid look； indiscernible by male eye； and answered：
〃Three a penny； sirr； they are no plenty the day；〃 added she； in smooth
tones that carried conviction。
（Little liar； they were selling six a penny everywhere。）
〃Saunders； buy them all； and be ever so long about it； count them； or
some nonsense。〃
〃He's daft！ he's daft！ Oh； ye ken； Jean； an Ennglishman and a lorrd； twa
daft things thegither； he could na' miss the road。 Coont them； lassie。〃
〃Come away； Sandy； till I count them till ye；〃 said Jean。
Saunders and Jean disappeared。
Business being out of sight； curiosity revived。
〃An' what brings ye here from London； if ye please？〃 recommenced the fair
inquisitor。
〃You have a good countenance； there is something in your face。 I could
find it in my heart to tell you； but I should bore you。〃
〃De'el a fear！ Bore me； bore me！ wheat's thaat； I wonder？〃
〃What is your name； madam？ Mine is Ipsden。〃
〃They ca' me Christie Johnstone。〃
〃Well； Christie Johnstone； I am under the doctor's hands。〃
〃Puir lad。 What's the trouble？〃 （solemnly and tenderly。）
〃Ennui！〃 （rather piteously。）
〃Yawn…we？ I never heerd tell o't。〃
〃Oh； you lucky girl；〃 burst out he； 〃but the doctor has undertaken to
cure me； in one thing you could assist me； if I am not presuming too far
on our short acquaintance。 I am to relieve one poor distressed person
every day； but I mustn't do two。 Is not that a bore？〃
〃Gie's your hand； gie's your hand。 I'm vexed for ca'ing you daft。 Hech！
what a saft hand ye hae。 Jean； I'm saying； come here； feel this。〃
Jean； who had run in； took the viscount's hand from Christie。
〃It never wroucht any；〃 explained Jean。 〃And he has bonny hair；〃 said
Christie； just touching his locks on the other side。
〃He's a bonny lad；〃 said Jean； inspecting him scientifically； and
pointblank。
〃Ay； is he；〃 said the other。 〃Aweel； there's Jess Rutherford； a widdy；
wi' fo