baillie and the priest, there was not a man of them who perjured himself; on the contrary, they gloried in renouncing their quarry and not their conscience.

CHAPTER IX.

Thou wilt be like a lover presently,
And tire the hearer with a book of words.

SHAKSPEARE.

LEVINGSTONE in the frequent rambles he took among the hills and glens, the woods and muirs, discovered on the summit of one glen the watch-house of a shepherd; and observing that this was the constant rendezvous of two young shepherds, he deemed it no uninteresting sport to conceal himself with a book in his hand, in a large but curiously-grown furze brake that sheltered the watch-house, and there as an eaves'-dropper to observe their manœuvres, and listen to their chit-chat.

The conversation of these youths turned on Willie's attachment to Bess;

and Wattie having rallied him on his "daft dreams and heavy heart," Willie frankly confessed, that as "Bess ne'er looked upon him wi' a blithesome smile, but gart him look blate wi' her jeers, though he could na' but looe her, he wad na' tint his bluid, the disdain o' Bess he tholed, wad fetch him to his cauld grave soon eneugh."

Wattie advised Willie to "leave aff that silly whining way: wha can help misluck? ne'er fash your thumb wi' sic a thrawin, gabbett chuck: dinna tint your hope, man; but whan ye're glowring about, gif ye see her linkan oure the muir wi' her coats kiltet, and her straught bare legs far whiter than the snaw, and her haffet locks waving oure her ruddy cheeks, loup oure the dyke, and seem as gif ye had forgathered wi' her by mischance; an' gif she misca' ye at the first, do ye but laugh, and clasp your arms about her neck and

waist, and haud her fast in your grips, and sine tak a fouth o' sweetest kisses frae her glowing mow; an' I'se warrant ye, Willie, gif she hae ony saul at a 'twill come lowping to her lips; and though she flite wi' ye atween the smacks, dinna ye think she means as she'll speak; and gif she lower her bonny face wi' gloom, do you say ther mow's like ony hinney, and gif she winna change her mood, ye'll gang clean wod, an' oure the craig ye'll tak the lowp; but tent the language o' hereen.”

Willie promised to obey; and as the youths left the hut "to fauld their sheep," Levingstone was content to go home to the manse, filled with many reflections on the gallantry of Wattie.

"Bess,Bess," he could not think what Bess was meant; but wandering solitary, some two days after this lesson had been tendered Willie, Levingstone espied the minister's servant-girl coming

from a neighbouring house, and sure enough she was the Bess; for like a greyhound Willie sprang from behind a high turf dyke that formed one flank of the fauld, and Levingstone espied Bess in the arms of Willie in a trice; and the words of this modest girl's mouth were, "O Willie! let me gang; I thought ye war mair blate; I manna. stay."-"Dear Bess! let me speak to

ye. "Na, na, Willie, that winna do; I'm nae obliged to saunter here wi you! I ne'er had ony thoughts to tint. my heart."—"Ah! Bess, wha kens but ye may rue an' pity-me; ye ne'er can wall a man that looes ye mair wi3 true downright love."" And if I ne'er should, nae man my heart can move; ilk lad's alike to me; I am happy and leal fraee'en to morn, and gif ye ken'd it, sae are ye; an' baith had best take tent, and frae the either keep a' daffin an' sugar'd words, an' ne'er mint a breath