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Puir Ailsie! she lost her innocence before she lost her life, me leddy. And I greatly misdoubt, he that reft her of the ane reft her of the ither!" sobbed the dame, as she assisted Claudia to put on her crimson silk dressing gown. "Now give me a shawl; I must go below." "Nay, nay, me leddy, dinna gang! It's awfu' wark doon there.
I find it mentioned in the articles of distay against Ailsie Gourlay for it is some comfort to know that the old hag was tried, condemned, and burned on the top of North Berwick Law, by sentence of a commission from the privy council I find, I say, it was charged against her, among other offences, that she had, by the aid and delusions of Satan, shown to a young person of quality, in a mirror glass, a gentleman then abroad, to whom the said young person was betrothed, and who appeared in the vision to be in the act of bestowing his hand upon another lady.
"So you see, Claudia, that we have got this man completely in our power. Look at his crimes. First, complicity in the murder of Ailsie Dunbar; secondly, conspiracy against your honor; thirdly, kidnaping and slave-trading. The man is already ruined; and you, my dear, are saved."
And then reverting to the subject of Katie's disappearance, she said: "What is this about your mother, Jim? When did you see her last? And have you any idea where she can be gone?" Jim suddenly burst into tears; for we know that he loved his old mother exceedingly; and he sobbed forth the words: "Oh, my lady, I am afeared as somebody has gone and made way with her as they did with poor Ailsie!"
I'll tell them," said the old man, departing. "Compose yourself, Faustina, this business has no reference to you, I assure you. When they asked for us, they merely wished to see us to put some questions about the case of Ailsie Dunbar," said the viscount, who had not the slightest suspicion that there was, or could be, a warrant out for his arrest. He fancied himself entirely secure in his crimes.
As he sat beside his solitary hearth there was a fumbling outside the door. He opened to admit old Ailsie, now crippled with rheumatic pains. "I know'd dat was you. Marse Doctor, 'n I follered yer, I want to tell yer: Mistress 'splained all 'bout dat 'fore she died. Dey wan't nothin' wrong. Her an' her ma was 'feared to let old Master know she hed run 'way an' married Marse Henry.
She was always engrossed in the nursery in tending her two children, and in sitting by the restless, excitable Ailsie till she fell asleep. By and by the housemaid Bessy tapped gently at the door. Norah went to her, and they spoke in whispers. 'Nurse! there's someone downstairs wants you. 'Wants me! who is it? 'A gentleman 'A gentleman? Nonsense!
But sometimes we dream something has happened, and the dream is so like reality, that you are not the first person, little woman, who has stood out that the thing has really happened. 'But, indeed, it was not a dream! said Ailsie, beginning to cry. Just then Mr and Mrs Chadwick came down, looking grave and discomposed. All during breakfast-time they were silent and uncomfortable.
'What was the matter? asked Mr Openshaw, as his wife returned to bed. 'Ailsie wakened up in a fright, with some story of a man having been in the room to say his prayers a dream, I suppose. And no more was said at the time. Mrs Openshaw had almost forgotten the whole affair when she got up about seven o'clock.
"Na," said Ailsie; "but into the ha' came the picture and I ken weel how it came there to gie them a warning that pride wad get a fa'. But there's as queer a ploy, cummers, as ony o' thae, that's gaun on even now in the burial vault yonder: ye saw twall mourners, wi' crape and cloak, gang down the steps pair and pair!" "What should ail us to see them?" said the one old woman.
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