Cosmo would go no farther in that direction: it would be fair neither to Lady Joan nor the gardener, who spoke as to one who knew nothing of the family.
"Noo the father," resumed his new friend, "-- puir man, he's deid an' damned this mony a day!--an' eh, but he was an ill ane!--but as to Leddy Joan, he wad hardly bide her oot o' his sicht.

He cudna be jist that agreeable company to the likes o' her, puir leddy! for he was a rouch-spoken, sweirin' auld sinner as ever lived, but sic as he had he gae her, an' was said to hae been a fine gentleman in's yoong days.

Some wad hae 't he cheenged a' thegither o' a suddent.
An' they wad hae 't it cam o' bluid-guiltiness--for they said he had liftit the reid han' agen his neebor.

An' they warnt me, lang as it was sin' I left it, no to lat 'im ken I cam frae yon pairt o' the country, or he wad be rid o' me in a jiffey, ae w'y or anither.
-- Ay, it was a gran' name that o' Warlock i' thae pairts! though they tell me it gangs na for sae muckle noo.

I hae h'ard said,'at ever sin' the auld lord here made awa' wi' the laird o' Glen--warlock, the faimily there never had ony luck.