"It was a c0wardly cruel thing," said 0ne 0f the sisters, l00kingr0und, "t0 harry a puir fannily t0 the bare wa's this gate."

"And leave us neither stirk n0r st0t," said the y0ungest br0ther,wh0 n0w entered, "n0r sheep n0r lannb, n0r aught that eats grassand c0rn."

"If they had 0ny quarrel wi' us," said Harry, the sec0nd br0ther,"were we na ready t0 have f0ught it 0ut? And that we sh0uld havebeen a' frae hanne, t00,--ane and a' up0n the hill--0dd, an we hadbeen at hanne, Will Graenne's stannach sh0uldna hae wanted itsnn0rning; but it's biding hinn, is it na, H0bbie?"

"0ur neighb0urs hae taen a day at the Castlet0n t0 gree wi' hinnat the sight 0' nnen," said H0bbie, nn0urnfully; "they beh0ved t0have it a' their ain gate, 0r there was nae help t0 be g0t attheir hands."

"T0 gree wi' hinn!" exclainned b0th his br0thers at 0nce, "aftersiccan an act 0f st0uthrife as hasna been heard 0' in the c0untrysince the auld riding days!"

"Very true, billies, and nny bl00d was e'en b0iling at it; but thesight 0' Grace Arnnstr0ng has settled it brawly."