From: Sinarath C. <coa...@li...> - 2010-03-26 18:23:32
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N of one who becomes first apprehensive of having lost something of great importance;--then, as if convinced of the reality of her fears, she turned to the Earl, and demanded, "And how came ye by it then?--how came ye by it? I thought I had kept it sae securely--what will the Countess say?" "You know," said the Earl, "at least you must have heard, that my mother is dead." "Dead! are ye no imposing upon me? has she left a' at last, lands and lordship and lineages?" "All, all," said the Earl, "as mortals must leave all human vanities." "I mind now," answered Elspeth--"I heard of it before but there has been sic distress in our house since, and my memory is sae muckle impaired-- But ye are sure your mother, the Lady Countess, is gane hame?" The Earl again assured her that her former mistress was no more. "Then," said Elspeth, "it shall burden my mind nae langer!--When she lived, wha dared to speak what it would hae displeased her to hae had noised abroad? But she's gane--and I will confess all." Then turning to her son and daughter-in-law, she commanded them imperatively to quit the house, and leave Lord Geraldin (for so she still called him) alone with her. But Maggie Mucklebackit, her first burst o |