She laid her ear to the stone and
heard the words: "Hurry up, Scantlie Mab, for I've promised the yarn and
Habetrot always keeps her promise." Then looking down the hole saw her
friend, the old dame, walking backwards and forwards in a deep cavern
among a group of spinsters all seated on colludie stones, and busy with
distaff and spindle. An ugly company they were, with lips more or less
disfigured, like old Habetrot's. Another of the sisterhood, who sat in a
distant corner reeling the yarn, was marked, in addition, by grey eyes,
which seemed starting from her head, and a long hooked nose.
While the girl was still watching, she heard Habetrot address this dame
by the name of Scantlie Mab, and say, "Bundle up the yarn, it is time
the young lassie should give it to her mother." Delighted to hear this,
the girl got up and returned homewards. Habetrot soon overtook her, and
placed the yarn in her hands. "Oh, what can I do for ye in return?"
exclaimed she, in delight. "Nothing--nothing," replied the dame; "but
dinna tell your mother who spun the yarn.
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