TINTERN AT WORK 227 



over the artist's paper with a scrutinising expres- 

 sion ; then he would draw back a little, and stamp 

 his cane on the ground with all the force and 

 dignity of a bailie. In the meantime our friend 

 was so absorbed in his work that he seemed wholly 

 unconscious of this person's presence, till he was 

 aroused by the little man himself, who said, in a 

 loud tone, and with an air of consummate con- 

 sequence, stamping a tombstone at the same time 

 with his staff of office, 



" Weel, friend, what may ye be doing here ? " 



Tintern, looking back over his shoulder, said, in 

 his absent manner, " I think he must have been 

 buried at the eastern end of the Abbey ; am I 

 right, my good sir ? " 



"Ay, ay I thought so, I ken weel eneuch 

 what ye're after ; ye are ane o' thae chiels that 

 gang aboot to raise the dead bodies o' the departed 

 corpses ; Od, that's a gude yane ! " 



Tintern (still sketching, and speaking abstrac- 

 tedly), "I'd give something to see old Michael 

 Scott's tomb." 



" Nae dout ye would ; but I'll tak' gude tent 

 to hae a sure hand or twae to watch yer howking 

 tricks the night." 



So saying, "the little round fat oily man" 

 marched off with great dignity, muttering, " Od, 

 that's a gude yane ! disturbing the dead bodies o' 

 the corpses ! He shall gang afore the Sherra'." 



It seems my unlucky friend was doomed to a 

 continued interruption of his studies ; for no sooner 

 had the man in office departed, than some old 

 women came and stood over him for a very con- 



