, and told how Riddick had been seen in market carrying more
than his load of whisky, and that as for Lang Hutchins, had he not
dared his Maker that very day to strike him dead if he spoke not the
truth--all that heard him well knowing that even as he uplifted his
hand he lied in his throat.

"Nor was Elsie wholly forgotten by her only near of kin. Twice or
thrice a year there came from the cottage a web of fine cloth, woven as
only Laird Stennis could weave it, with the inscription written plainly
thereon, 'To be sold for the benefit of the upkeep of my granddaughter,
Elsie Stennis.'

"After his accident, which nobody could explain and, indeed, few dared
to ask about, Laird Stennis took a disgust at the Weaver's Cot by the
burnside. He got his miserly money out, and with it he bought the
estate of Deep Moat Hollow, that had been in the market for long--and
they say that he got it for a song, the late owner's need being great
and money terrible scarce. Then he and Daft Jeremy removed thither,
and they had Jeremy's sister, a queer old maid (madder, they said, than
himself), to keep house for the pair of them. Then the Laird Stennis
rode ever the more to market and tryst, and waxed ever the richer,
laying field to field, as is forbidden in the Holy Book. Then good
Mrs. Comline died, and, though I was no better than a field worker, I
posted off to Dumfries, and took ye home to dwell with me in this house
which is my very own. All for fear that your grandfather would claim
you and take you to bide in the same house as Mad Jeremy and his
sisters. Oh, yes, there are more of them, and, indeed, by what I can
see and hear the place is like an asylum. Such antics were never heard
tell of, and the poor creatures going dressed like zanies out of a
booth at the Thorsby wakes."

Then we both cried out to Nance to know if she had seen these strange
people, and to tell us what they were like.

"Seen them? Of course," she answered. "Do not I work there week in,
week out for Bailiff Ball, who is a good man and honest in his
payments."

"Tell us about Daft Jeremy," we said, both speaking together, in a
fashion we had.

"Jeremy Orrin," said Nance, thoughtfully, giving the fire a poke with
her clog; "well, at times the creature is fairly sensible. They say he
will talk of wonders he has seen on the deep, and in foreign
parts--evil deeds and worse talk that makes the blood run cold to
listen. To look at--oh, he is a wild-