'I and mine hae been three hundred years here,' said another old
man, 'and I sail sell my last cow, but I'll see the young Laird
placed in his right.'

The women, ever delighted with the marvellous, and not less so
when a handsome young man is the subject of the tale, added their
shrill acclamations to the general all-hail. 'Blessings on him;
he's the very picture o' his father! The Bertrams were aye the
wale o' the country side!'

'Eh! that his puir mother, that died in grief and in doubt about
him, had but lived to see this day!' exclaimed some female voices.

'But we'll help him to his ain, kimmers,' cried others; 'and
before Glossin sail keep the Place of Ellangowan we'll howk him
out o't wi' our nails!'

Others crowded around Dinmont, who was nothing both to tell what
he knew of his friend, and to boast the honour which he had in
contributing to the discovery. As he was known to several of the
principal farmers present, his testimony afforded an additional
motive to the general enthusiasm. In short, it was one of those
moments of intense feeling when the frost of the Scottish people
melts like a snow-wreath, and the dissolving torrent carries dam
and dyke before it.

The sudden shouts interrupted the devotions of the clergyman; and
Meg, who was in one of those dozing fits of stupefaction that
precede the close of existence, suddenly started--'Dinna ye hear?