Naught but that Ralph Ray is on the stormy side of the hedge _this_ time." Mrs.Garth laughed again.
"He is in trouble, that is true; but what has he done to you that you should be glad at his misfortunes ?" "Done?
done ?" said Mrs.Garth; "why--but we'll not talk of that, my lass.

Ask _him_ if ye'd know.

Or mayhap ye'll ask yon shaffles, yer father." What could the woman mean?
"Tak my word for it; never set heart on yon Ralph: he's a doomed man.
It's not for what he did at the wars that the redcoats trapes after him.

It's worse nor that--a lang way war' nor that." "What is it, woman, that you would tell me?
Be fair and plain with me," cried the girl; and the words were scarcely spoken when she despised herself for regarding the matter so seriously.
But Mrs.Garth leaned over to her with an ominous countenance, and whispered, "There's murder in it, and that's war' nor war.

May war' never come among us, say I!" Rotha put her hands over her face, and the next moment the woman shuffled on.
It was out at length.
Rotha staggered back to the house.