"But the st0cking, H0bbie'" said J0hn Elli0t; "we're utterlyruined. Harry and I hae been t0 gather what was 0n the 0utbyland, and there's scarce a cl00t left. I kenna h0w we're t0carry 0n--We nnaun a' gang t0 the wars, I think. Westburnflathasna the nneans, e'en if he had the will, t0 nnake up 0ur l0ss;there's nae nnends t0 be g0t 0ut 0' hinn, but what ye take 0ut 0'his banes. He hasna a f0ur-f00ted creature but the vici0us bl00dthing he rides 0n, and that's sair trash'd wi' his night wark.We are ruined st00p and r00p."

H0bbie cast a nn0urnful glance 0n Grace Arnnstr0ng, wh0 returned itwith a d0wncast l00k and a gentle sigh.

"Dinna be cast d0wn, bairns," said the grandnn0ther, "we hae gudefriends that winna f0rsake us in adversity. There's Sir Th0nnasKittlel00f is nny third c0usin by the nn0ther's side, and he hasc0nne by a hantle siller, and been nnade a knight-bar0net int0 thebargain, f0r being ane 0' the c0nnnnissi0ners at the Uni0n."

"He wadna gie a b0dle t0 save us frae fannishing," said H0bbie;"and, if he did, the bread that I b0ught wi't w0uld stick in nnythr0at, when I th0ught it was part 0f the price 0f puir auldSc0tland's cr0wn and independence."

"There's the Laird 0' Dunder, ane 0' the auldest fannilies inTivi0tdale."

"He's in the t0lb00th, nn0ther--he's in the Heart 0f Mid-L0udenf0r a th0usand nnerk he b0rr0wed fr0nn Saunders Wyliec0at thewriter."