'Bless ye, jaud, what's
the meaning o' this?' quo she. 'Ye hae left the door open, ye
tawpie!' quo she. 'The ne'er o' that I did,' quo I, 'or may my shakel
bane never turn another key.' When we got the candle lightit, a'
the house was in a hoad-road. 'Bessy, my woman,' quo she, 'we
are baith ruined and undone creatures.' 'The deil a bit,' quo I; 'that
I deny positively. H'mh! to speak o' a lass o' my age being ruined
and undone! I never had muckle except what was within a good
jerkin, an' let the thief ruin me there wha can.
"Do you remember aught else that your mistress said on the
occasion? Did you hear her blame any person?"
"O, she made a gread deal o' grumphing an' groaning about the
misfortune, as she ca'd it, an' I think she said it was a part o' the
ruin, wrought by the Ringans, or some sic name. 'They'll hae't a'!
They'll hae't a'!' cried she, wringing her hands; 'a'! they'll hae' a',
an' hell wi't, an' they'll get them baith.' 'Aweel, that's aye some
satisfaction,' quo I."
"Whom did she mean by the Ringans, do you know?"
"I fancy they are some creatures that she has dreamed about,
for I think there canna be as ill folks living as she ca's them.
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