268 The Little Minister

What a wind’s in the crittur! I’m thinking there’s
a hell in ilka Highlandman.”

“Take care, then, Waster Lunny, that you
dinna licht it,’ said an angry voice that made
us jump, though it was only Duncan, the farmer’s
shepherd, who spoke.

“J had forgotten you was a Highlandman
yoursel’, Duncan,’ Waster Lunny said, ner-
vously; but Elspeth, who had come to us un-
noticed, ordered the shepherd to return to the
hillside, which he did haughtily.

“ How did you no lay haud on that blast o’
wind, Lauchlan Campbell,” asked Elspeth of her
husband, “and speir at him what had happened
at the Spittal? A quarrel afore a marriage brings
ill luck.”

“T’m thinking,” said the farmer, “that Rin-
toul’s making his ain ill luck by marrying on a
young leddy.”

“A man’s never ower auld to marry,” said
Elspeth.

“No, nor a woman,” rejoined Waster Lunny,
“‘when she gets the chance. But, Elspeth, I be-
lieve I can guess what has fired that fearsome
piper. Depend upon. it, somebody has been
speaking disrespectful about the crittur’s ances-
tors.”

“ His ancestors!” exclaimed Elspeth, scorn-
fully. “I’m thinking mine could hae bocht them
at a crown the dozen.”

“ Hoots,” said the farmer, “‘ you’re 0” a weav-
ing stock, and dinna understand about ancestors.
Take a stick to a Highland laddie, and it’s no
him you hurt, but his ancestors. Likewise it’s

?

?