were sure he was in the plot against them; indeed, it was always
thought he was an informer, and no doubt he was something not canny,
for he had a down look.

It was some time before the doorway was cleared of the stoups and
stools, and Jenny was in great concern, and flustered, as she said,
for her poor sister, who was taken with a heart-colic. "I'm sorry
for her," said Robin, "but I'll be as quiet as possible;" and so he
searched all the house, but found nothing; at the which his
companion, the divor east country hostler, swore an oath that could
not be misunderstood; so, without more ado, but as all thought
against the grain, Robin went up to sympathize with Betty in the
bed, whose groans were loud and vehement. "Let me feel your pulse,"
said Robin, and he looted down as she put forth her arm from aneath
the clothes, and laying his hand on the bed, cried, "Hey! what's
this? this is a costly filling." Upon which Betty jumpet up quite
recovered, and Jenny fell to the wailing and railing, while the
hostler from the east country took the bed of tea on his back, to
carry it to the change-house, till a cart was gotten to take it into
the custom-house at Irville.

Betty Pawkie being thus suddenly cured, and grudging the loss of
property, took a knife in her hand, and as the divor was crossing
the burn at the stepping-stones that lead to the back of the change-
house, she ran after him and ripped up the tikeing, and sent all the
tea floating away on the burn, which was thought a brave action of
Betty, and the story not a little helped to lighten our melancholy
meditations.

Robin Bicker was soon after this affair removed to another district,