fashion. When I heard of this, I could not but go to see how a
creature that was not thought possessed of a grain of understanding,
could have done so much herself. On entering the door, I beheld Meg
sitting with two or three of the neighbouring kimmers, and the
corpse laid out on a bed. "Come awa', sir," said Meg; "this is an
altered house. They're gane that keepit it bein; but, sir, we maun
a' come to this--we maun pay the debt o' nature--death is a grim
creditor, and a doctor but brittle bail when the hour of reckoning's
at han'! What a pity it is, mother, that you're now dead, for
here's the minister come to see you. Oh, sir! but she would have
had a proud heart to see you in her dwelling, for she had a genteel
turn, and would not let me, her only daughter, mess or mell wi' the
lathron lasses of the clachan. Ay, ay, she brought me up with care,
and edicated me for a lady: nae coarse wark darkened my lily-white
hands. But I maun work now; I maun dree the penalty of man."

Having stopped some time, listening to the curious maunnering of
Meg, I rose to come away; but she laid her hand on my arm, saying,
"No, sir, ye maun taste before ye gang! My mother had aye plenty in
her life, nor shall her latter day be needy."

Accordingly, Meg, with all the due formality common on such
occasions, produced a bottle of water, and a dram-glass, which she
filled and tasted, then presented to me, at the same time offering
me a bit of bread on a slate. It was a consternation to everybody
how the daft creature had learnt all the ceremonies, which she
performed in a manner past the power of pen to describe, making the
solemnity of death, by her strange mockery, a kind of merriment,
that was more painful than sorrow; but some spirits are gifted with
a faculty of observation, that, by the strength of a little fancy,