and took the bread out of other folk's mouths; but as she was really an
excellent laundress, she had the best custom in the neighbourhood, and
her honesty, her punctuality, and her homely civility, had made her a
great favourite with Jane Melville.

"I fear it must be good-bye this time, Peggy," said she; "next week's
washing must be given to other hands."

"Eh, now, Miss Jean, ye dinna say so. I heard the new man was coming to
the Hall, but no just so very soon as that. But ye are no going out of
the place for good?"

"For good or ill, Peggy, we leave Cross Hall next Thursday."

"And where are you going to?"

"I wish I knew."

"Preserve us, Miss Jean! Are you and Miss Elsie, poor bit thing,
unacquainted with where you are going to?"

"It is only too true."

"Well, I am going to leave the place too; but I ken well where
I am going, and that is to Edinburgh."

"Why are you leaving Swinton? I thought you were doing very well here."

"I don't say that I have any cause to complain of my prosperity here;
but, you see, Tam is wild to learn the engineering, and he wants to go