"Ye--ye--ye--es," said Saddletree, after some grave hesitation;
"unquestionably that is a thing to be proved, as the court will more
fully declare by an interlocutor of relevancy in common form; but I fancy
that job's done already, for she has confessed her guilt."
"Confessed the murder?" exclaimed Jeanie, with a scream that made them
all start.
"No, I didna say that," replied Bartoline. "But she confessed bearing the
babe."
"And what became of it, then?" said Jeanie, "for not a word could I get
from her but bitter sighs and tears."
"She says it was taken away from her by the woman in whose house it was
born, and who assisted her at the time."
"And who was that woman?" said Butler. "Surely by her means the truth
might be discovered.--Who was she? I will fly to her directly."
"I wish," said Dumbiedikes, "I were as young and as supple as you, and
had the gift of the gab as weel."
"Who is she?" again reiterated Butler impatiently.--"Who could that woman
be?"
"Ay, wha kens that but herself?" said Saddletree; "she deponed farther,
and declined to answer that interrogatory."
"Then to herself will I instantly go," said Butler; "farewell, Jeanie;"
then coming close up to her--"Take no _rash steps_ till you hear from me.
Farewell!" and he immediately left the cottage.
"I wad gang too," said the landed proprietor, in an anxious, jealous, and
repining tone, "but my powny winna for the life o' me gang ony other road
than just frae Dumbiedikes to this house-end, and sae straight back
again.
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