accident, came running to the door, and seeing the exposure that
perjink Miss Peggy had made of herself, put her hands to her sides,
and laughed for some time as if she was by herself. Miss Peggy,
being sorely hurt in the hinder parts, summoned Mrs Fenton before
me, where the whole affair, both as to what was seen and heard, was
so described, with name and surname, that I could not keep my
composure. It was, however, made manifest, that Mrs Fenton had
offended the law, in so much, as her flags had not been swept that
morning; and therefore, to appease the offended delicacy of Miss
Peggy, who was a most respectable lady in single life, I fined the
delinquent five shillings.

"Mr Pawkie," said the latheron, "I'll no pay't. Whar do ye expeck a
widow woman like me can get five shillings for ony sic nonsense?"

"Ye must not speak in that manner, honest woman," was my reply; "but
just pay the fine."

"In deed and truth, Mr Pawkie," quo she, "it's ill getting a breek
off a highlandman. I'll pay no sic thing--five shillings--that's a
story!"

I thought I would have been constrained to send her to prison, the
woman grew so bold and contumacious, when Mr Hickery came in, and
hearing what was going forward, was evidently working himself up to
take the randy's part; but fortunately she had a suspicion that all
the town-council and magistrates were in league against her, on
account of the repute of her house, so that when he enquired of her
where she lived, with a view, as I suspect, of interceding, she
turned to him, and with a leer and a laugh, said, "Dear me, Mr