Chapter 24 - Page 2

looked ower her southland nose at us a'. I trow her pride got a
downcome. And is she e'en gane?"

"She died yesterday," said Ravenswood; "and desired to be buried here
beside her husband; you know where he lies, no doubt?"

"Ken where he lies!" answered the sexton, with national indirection of
response. "I ken whar a'body lies, that lies here. But ye were speaking
o' her grave? Lord help us, it's no an ordinar grave that will haud her
in, if a's true that folk said of Alice in her auld days; and if I gae
to six feet deep--and a warlock's grave shouldna be an inch mair ebb,
or her ain witch cummers would soon whirl her out of her shroud for a'
their auld acquaintance--and be't six feet, or be't three, wha's to pay
the making o't, I pray ye?"

"I will pay that, my friend, and all other reasonable charges."

"Reasonable charges!" said the sexton; "ou, there's grundmail--and
bell-siller, though the bell's broken, nae doubt--and the kist--and my
day's wark--and my bit fee--and some brandy and yill to the dirgie, I am
no thinking that you can inter her, to ca' decently, under saxteen pund
Scots."

"There is the money, my friend," said Ravenswood, "and something over.
Be sure you know the grave."

"Ye'll be ane o' her English relations, I'se warrant," said the hoary
man of skulls; "I hae heard she married far below her station. It was
very right to let her bite on the bridle when she was living, and it's
very right to gie her a secent burial now she's dead, for that's a
matter o' credit to yoursell rather than to her. Folk may let their
kindred shift for themsells when they are alive, and can bear the burden
fo their ain misdoings; but it's an unnatural thing to let them be
buried like dogs, when a' the discredit gangs to the kindred. What kens
the dead corpse about it?"

"You would not have people neglect their relations on a bridal occasion
neither?" said Ravenswood, who was amused with the professional
limitation of the grave-digger's philanthropy.

The old man cast up his sharp grey eyes with a shrewd smile, as if he
understood the jest, but instantly continued, with his former gravity:
"Bridals--wha wad neglect bridals that had ony regard for plenishing
the earth? To be sure, they suld be celebrated with all manner of good
cheer, and meeting of friends, and musical instruments--harp,
sackbut, and psaltery; or gude fiddle and pipes, when these auld-warld
instruments of melody are hard to be compassed."

"The presence of the fiddle, I dare say," replied Ravenswood, "would
atone for the absence of all the others."

The