 done to these
distressed families, which, he observed by the way, the civil law called
restitutio in integrum. But Mammon was struggling with Remorse for retaining his
place in a bosom he had so long possessed; and he partly succeeded, as an old
tyrant proves often too strong for his insurgent rebels.
    »I canna do't,« he answered, with a voice of despair. »It would kill me to
do't - how can ye bid me pay back siller, when ye ken how I want it? or dispone
Beersheba, when it lies sae weel into my ain plaid-nuik? Nature made Dumbiedikes
and Beersheba to be ae man's land - She did, by -. Nichil, it wad kill me to
part them.«
    »But ye maun die whether or no, Laird,« said Mr. Novit; »and maybe ye wad
die easier - it's but trying. I'll scroll the disposition in nae time.«
    »Dinna speak o't, sir,« replied Dumbiedikes, »or I'll fling the stoup at
your head. - But, Jock, lad, ye see how the warld warstles wi' me on my deathbed
- be kind to the puir creatures, the Deanses and the Butlers - be kind to them,
Jock. Dinna let the warld get a grip o' ye, Jock - but keep the gear thegither!
and whate'er ye do, dispone Beersheba at no rate. Let the creatures stay at a
moderate mailing, and hae bite and soup; it will maybe be the better wi' your
father whare he's gaun, lad.«
    After these contradictory instructions, the Laird felt his mind so much at
ease, that he drank three bumpers of brandy continuously, and »soughed awa,« as
Jenny expressed it, in an attempt to sing »Deil stick the Minister.«
    His death made a revolution in favour of the distressed families. John
Dumbie, now of Dumbiedikes, in his own right, seemed to be close and selfish
enough, but wanted the grasping spirit and active mind of his father; and his
guardian happened to agree with him in opinion, that his father's dying
recommendation should be attended to. The tenants, therefore, were not actually
turned out of doors among the snow-wreaths, and were allowed wherewith to
procure butter-milk and peas-bannocks, which they ate under the full force of
the original malediction. The cottage of Deans, called Woodend, was not very
distant from that at Beersheba. Formerly there had
