But the girl, whose name, she said, was Bessy Gillies,
answered in so flippant and fearless a way that the auditors were
much amused. After a number of routine questions, the depute-
advocate asked her if she was at home on the morning of the fifth
of September last, when her mistress's house was robbed.
"Was I at hame, say ye? Na, faith-ye, lad! An' I had been at hame,
there had been mair to dee. I wad hae raised sic a yelloch!"
"Where were you that morning?"
"Where was I, say you? I was in the house where my mistress
was, sitting dozing an' half sleeping in the kitchen. I thought aye
she would be setting out every minute, for twa hours."
"And, when you went home, what did you find?"
"What found we? Be my sooth, we found a broken lock, an' toom
kists."
"Relate some of the particulars, if you please."
"Sir, the thieves didna stand upon particulars: they were halesale
dealers in a' our best wares."
"I mean, what passed between your mistress and you on the
occasion?"
"What passed, say ye? O, there wasna muckle: I was in a great
passion, but she was dung doitrified a wee. When she gaed to put
the key i' the door, up it flew to the fer wa'.
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