It was past eleven o'clock when the party broke up; Mr. Snodgrass and Mr.
Micklewham walked home together, and as they were crossing the Red Burn
Bridge, at the entrance of Eglintoun Wood,--a place well noted from
ancient times for preternatural appearances, Mr. Micklewham declared that
he thought he heard something purring among the bushes; upon which Mr.
Snodgrass made a jocose observation, stating, that it could be nothing
but the effect of Lord North's strong ale in his head; and we should add,
by way of explanation, that the Lord North here spoken of was Willy
Grieve, celebrated in Irvine for the strength and flavour of his brewing,
and that, in addition to a plentiful supply of his best, Miss Mally had
entertained them with tamarind punch, constituting a natural cause
adequate to produce all the preternatural purring that terrified the
dominie.