Guy Mannering.

GUY MANNERING. 263
CHAPTER XXIV.
Liddell till nowv, except in Doric lays,
Tuned to her murmurs by her love-sick swains,
Unknown in song-though not a purer stream
Rolls towards the western main.
ART OF PRESERVING IIEALTI.
THE present store-farmers of the south of Scotland are
a much more refined race than their fathers, and the
manners I am now to describe have either altogether
disappeared, or are greatly modified. Without losing
the rural simplicity of manners, they now cultivate arts
unknown to the former generation, not only in the progressive improvement of their possessions, but in all the
comforts of life. Their houses are more commodious,
their habits of life regulated so as better to keep pace
with those of the civilized world; and the best of luxuries,
the luxury of knowledge, has gained much ground among
their hills during the last thirty years. Deep drinking,
formerly their greatest failing, is now fast losing ground;
and, while the frankness of their extensive hospitality
continues the same, it is, generally speaking, refined in its
character, and restrained in its excesses.
"Deil's in the wife," said Dandie Dinmont, shaking
off his spouse's embrace, but gently and with a look of
great affection; "deil's in ye, Ailie-d'ye no see the
strange gentleman?"
Ailie turned to make her apology " Troth, I was sae