"
"To gree wi' him!" exclaimed both his brothers at once, "after siccan an
act of stouthrife as hasna been heard o' in the country since the auld
riding days!"
"Very true, billies, and my blood was e'en boiling at it; but the sight
o' Grace Armstrong has settled it brawly."
"But the stocking, Hobbie'" said John Elliot; "we're utterly ruined.
Harry and I hae been to gather what was on the outby land, and there's
scarce a cloot left. I kenna how we're to carry on--We maun a' gang
to the wars, I think. Westburnflat hasna the means, e'en if he had the
will, to make up our loss; there's nae mends to be got out o' him, but
what ye take out o' his banes. He hasna a four-footed creature but the
vicious blood thing he rides on, and that's sair trash'd wi' his night
wark. We are ruined stoop and roop."
Hobbie cast a mournful glance on Grace Armstrong, who returned it with a
downcast look and a gentle sigh.
"Dinna be cast down, bairns," said the grandmother, "we hae gude friends
that winna forsake us in adversity.
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