The first tone of
the ghostly music startled Alec, and would have arrested him even if
the voice had not been Kate's.
"Sweep up the flure, Janet.
Put on anither peat.
It's a lown and starry nicht, Janet,
And neither cauld nor weet.
And it's open hoose we keep the nicht
For ony that may be oot.
It's the nicht atween the Sancts and Souls,
Whan the bodiless gang aboot
Set the chairs back to the wa', Janet;
Mak' ready for quaiet fowk.
Hae a' thing as clean as a win'in' sheet:
They comena ilka ook.
There's a spale* upo' the flure, Janet;
And there's a rowan-berry:
Sweep them into the fire, Janet.--
They'll be welcomer than merry.
Syne set open the door, Janet--
Wide open for wha kens wha;
As ye come benn to yer bed, Janet,
Set it open to the wa'."
She set the chairs back to the wa',
But ane made o' the birk;
She sweepit the flure,--left that ae spale,
A lang spale o' the aik.
The nicht was lowne, and the stars sat still,
Aglintin' doon the sky;
And the souls crap oot o' their mooly graves,
A' dank wi' lyin' by.
She had set the door wide to the wa',
And blawn the peats rosy reid;
They war shoonless feet gaed oot and in,
Nor clampit as they gaed.
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