Malcolm

ith her hooded hand, although the sun was far behind her, looked out to sea. It was the forenoon of a day of early summer. The larks were many and loud in the skies

the long breakers, born of last night's wind, were still roaring from the northeast, although the gale had now sunk to a breeze-cold and of doubtful influence. From the chimneys of the fishermen's houses below, ascended a yellowish smoke, which, against the blue of the sea, assumed a dull green colour as it drifted vanishing to

untenance as intently as she seemed to be gazing on the sea. It was a man of dwarfish height and uncertain age, with a huge hump upon his back, features of great refinement, a long thin beard, and a forehead unnaturally large, over eyes

glanced downward, gave a great start and a

s! Whaur co

eant any offence: her words were the mere embodiment of the

quick flushed cheeks and glowing eyes, but, apparently too polite to refuse an

na ken whaur I come frae. I dinna ken whaur ye c

r ain wyte (blame). What gart ye stan' glowerin' at a body th

e cam frae," returned the man in

nae sic freits,"

haur ye're gaein' ti

t as muckle about the tane as the tither," she answer

rae, and I dinna ken whaur gaun till; but I ken 'at gaun whaur I cam frae. That stan'

anach, in tones of repudiation. "What

se?" pleaded the man, with a c

frae my mither," said the woman, looking

e hands flashed out of his pockets, pressed against his ears, and intertwined their fingers at th

m!" said the woman, and walked away, wi

n, seeing that, beyond his clothes, and five pounds a year of pocket money, he derived no personal advantage from his possessions. He never went near his own house, for, from some unknown reas

would have been willing to allow that whatever it might be that caused the difference between him

were following him, he flew rather than fled. It was nearly low water, and the wet sand afforded an easy road to his flying feet. Betwixt sea and shore, a sail in th

e long neglect on every plank and seam; half its props had sunk or decayed, and the huge hollow leaned low on one side, disclosing the squalid desolation of its lean ribbed and naked interior, producing all the phantasmic effect of a great swampy desert; old pools of water overgrown with a green scum, lay in the hollows between its rotting timbers, and the upper planks were baking and cracking in

ng between them and the cliffs, at a footpace, with his eyes on the ground, and not even a glance at the two men who were at

e instant he was beyond hearing. "Something's

day comes roun', Sawtan gets the pooer ower him. Eh, but he's a fearsome sicht whan he's ta'en that gait!" continued the speaker. "I met him ance i' the gloamin',

e'en at the warst, as ony lamb. He's but a puir cratur wha's tribble's ower str