"Near the mid-hour of the night the rush of a horse's feet was heard,
and the sound of a rider leaping from its back, and a heavy knock came
to the door, accompanied by a voice saying, 'The cummer drink's hot,
and the knave bairn is expected at Laird Laurie's to-night; sae mount,
goodwife, and come.'
"'Preserve me!' said the wife of Sandie Macharg; 'that's news indeed!
who could have thought it? the Laird has been heirless for seventeen
years! Now, Sandie, my man, fetch me my skirt and hood.'
"But he laid his arm round his wife's neck, and said, 'If all the lairds
in Galloway go heirless, over this door threshold shall you not stir
to-night; and I have said, and I have sworn it: seek not to know why
or wherefore; but, Lord, send us thy blessed mornlight.' The wife
looked for a moment in her husband's eyes, and desisted from further
entreaty.
"'But let us send a civil message to the gossips, Sandie; and hadnae
ye better say I am sair laid with a sudden sickness? though it's
sinful-like to send the poor messenger a mile agate with a lie in his
mouth without a glass of brandy.
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