same, duly ilka year for forty years since syne. Frae that day till this, the Landlord has never spent on The Cottage sae muckle as yae single plack, every needfu' repair having been wrocht by our ain hands alane. We micht, shurely, noo regard oorsel's as haein' some stake i' the Auld Hoose, at least tae the extent o' bein' allooed to sit still an' dee in peace."

"You need not argue," retorted the Factor, "the papers are all adjusted; and in ten days after the Term, the New Road to the Farm will go across the site of this Cottage. Good day!"

"Bide a wee, Sir Spry," struck in another voice, -that of Angell Jenn, who had been biting her lip to keep herself quiet in the background,-"Ye're a big Man, the day, an' crawin' unco croose! But I've seen the like o' you whaumilt by a michtier Pooer, an' tummilin' doon wi' a deidly crash. We've tried tae serve God an' oor Faimily an' oor Neebours here for forty years; an' mibbe the Pooers Aboon 'll prove yet that we've as ticht a grup o' thae Auld Wa's as either the Factor or the Landlord. Besides a', Neddy ma man, big as ye are, ye'd better remember that ye hae a Wife an' Weans o' yer ain, that they're just flesh an' blude like the lave, an' that whan Misfortune dogs yer ain heels, and disasters fa' on them as weel as on you,-the memory o' thae ongangin's at Castlebraes 'll be a gey thorny pillow for you to lie doon on! I wush ye nae ill; but I lift ma' haun' an' pray the Almichty tae bring ye tae yer knees, an' learn ye tae dae tae ithers as ye wush them tae dae tae you, an' mak' yer cruel Hert scunner at wark like this!"

A contemptuous wave of the hand was all Sir Edward's reply; though the Villagers who witnessed all the scene declared that he winced under Angell Jenn's rebuke, and plunged the spurs viciously into the horse's flanks as he tore away.

The Dear Old Souls tearfully made up their minds to face the worst: praying over the subject every day at the Family Altar, if the Lord might be pleased to open up a kindlier way, they nevertheless bespoke a little Den in an adjoining Parish, to which in the first strait they could withdraw, with their few Household gods. But while they prayed, others altogether unknown to them plotted and cursed; and it became speedily manifest that the Factor had at last roused into union against himself, at once all that was best and all that was worst in Castlebraes. Cottars, Crofters, and even Farmers, who had borne, with surprising patience, treatment of themselves scarcely less cruel, banded together to defeat and to revenge this heartless tyranny towards an aged Couple, whom they not only loved as Neighbours, but profoundly venerated, for something they could not easily describe, but which we cannot better name than by calling it the Christ-Presence, that seemed to be felt wherever they were.

Alarming news reached me. Three of the most determined fellows in Castlebraes had taken a common vow that, the moment Angell James was driven out, they would neither eat nor sleep till Sir Edward Spry had paid the penalty, in limb, if not in life. Certain as I felt that Moudie Jamie would know everything, and probably be a ring

leader in the ploy, I got into communication with him, without a moment's delay, and I was backed by the earnest and pathetic entreaties of Angell James,—" That no hair of any Human Being's head was to be hurt for his sake; that he would rather die in a byre, than that any poor sinner should for his sake be hurled into Eternity,-to appear before God with all his guilt unforgiven!"

I pressed these things on Moudie, and charged him to assist me.

"Assist ye, in what?" retorted Jamie, with face set like a flint. "If ye mean, supposin' Factor Ned was in danger, tae save his limb or his life,—waste nae mair breath on me, Laird! There's no a rat nor a reptile, creepin' aboot Castlebraes, that I wad na raither save, than lift yae wee pinkie tae save that Deevilish man."

I still persisted that if anything serious happened, they would defeat their own real purpose, bring penalty and shame on themselves, and probably a deeper misery on those they desired to help. But Moudie was immovable.

'Keep yersel' easy, Laird! Gif the Men o' Castlebraes tak' up the job ye're hintin' at, they'll mak' a clean an' finisht job,- tak' ma word for that," retorted Jamie, with a twinkle that showed he was the soul of the plot,-"and if Sir Edward's horse stauchers in Lochar Moss, an' the rider should disappear for ever in a Quaakin' Bog, his is no the first beast that's been never mair heard tell o'; an' what waur him than Moses, that nae Man should ever ken his sepulchre!"

Jamie's unfailing good-humour had changed to

poison and gall. I had never before seen him in any such mood. But what staggered me, most of all, was to discover within the next few days, that almost every Soul in Castlebraes, who could be got to refer to the subject at all, treated it in exactly the same spirit,—Angell James and myself, probably the solitary exceptions.

Finding out the address of the Marquis, I wrote directly to himself a full and fair account of all that was transpiring; though much fearing that the evil might be beyond recall before I could receive an answer. Also, I sent copies of the letter to Lord Dougall, and to his younger brother Lord Alfred, my fellow-student and devoted friend. No reply of any kind reached me, except that Lord Alfred had appealed to his brother; and that, in any case, he strongly urged that the Cottagers be advised to sit still, as the Factor had been warned, by his future Master, not to move further in the matter, till at least a confirmatory message came from the Marquiss. This news, of course, became public property, and some were for the time appeased. Others, however, refused to expect anything from the Factor but blinded and cruel tyranny.

On the third day after the May Term, Angell James received a personal message from Sir Edward Spry, that on the following Monday at nine o'clock the tradesmen would arrive to pull down The Cottage, and begin to lay the new Road-Way. The good old man, fearing regrettable consequences, hastened to consult me,—what ought he to do? I determined, though I shrank from

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Saturday was a special Market. I went to The Toun, by appointment, to confer with the Factor. His eye had the steel-cold gleam of assured victory. He seemed to find peculiar joy in thrusting aside all my pleas. So, after high words on both sides, and, doubtless, somewhat wild on my part, I drove off with a sense of utter defeat at all points.

"The Law must be obeyed!" was the one article of his Creed. But he scoffingly hinted, that I had "better go to Parliament and get the Law altered, instead of encouraging simple Folks to break it.”

I had not gone from his presence three minutes, when, to my utter astonishment, I was confronted with Moudie Jamie, and saw hanging about at a little distance Bauldy o' the Smiddy and Heather Jock. These had manifestly become aware of my embassy, and were, altogether unsuspected by me, eagerly awaiting the issue.

"Am I richt i' ma guess, Laird? Ye're gey sair putten till't. Has that Deevil vexed ye?" began Jamie, with a curious blend of fierce rage and tender sympathy.

"I'm aff Hame, Jamie," exclaimed I, my heart being sore, falling back on the tongue of childhood, "tae tosh up some bit cosey corner for Angell James an' Angell Jenn! They maunna, an' they shanna, leave auld Castlebraes."

'Richt, Laird, an' richt again!" said Jamie; and