Although they thus disagreed on the principal object of Thome Reid’s visits, Bessie Dunlop affirmed he continued to come to her frequently, and assist her with his counsel; and that if any one consulted her about the ailments of human beings or of cattle, or the recovery of things lost and stolen, she was, by the advice of Thome Reid, always able to answer the querists.  She was also taught by her (literally ghostly) adviser how to watch the operation of the ointments he gave her, and to presage from them the recovery or death of the patient.  She said Thome gave her herbs with his own hand, with which she cured John Jack’s bairn and Wilson’s of the Townhead.  She also was helpful to a waiting-woman of the young Lady Stanlie, daughter of the Lady Johnstone, whose disease, according to the opinion of the infallible Thome Reid, was “a cauld blood that came about her heart,” and frequently caused her to swoon away.  For this Thome mixed a remedy as generous as the balm of Gilead itself.  It was composed of the most potent ale, concocted with spices and a little white sugar, to be drunk every morning before taking food.  For these prescriptions Bessie Dunlop’s fee was a peck of meal and some cheese.  The young woman recovered.  But the poor old Lady Kilbowie could get no help for her leg, which had been crooked for years; for Thome Reid said the marrow of the limb was perished and the blood benumbed, so that she would never recover, and if she sought further assistance, it would be the worse for her.  These opinions indicate common sense and prudence at least, whether we consider them as originating with the umquhile Thome Reid, or with the culprit whom he patronized.  The judgments given in the case of stolen goods were also well chosen; for though they seldom led to recovering the property, they generally alleged such satisfactory reasons for its not being found as effectually to cover the credit of the prophetess.  Thus Hugh Scott’s cloak could not be returned, because the thieves had gained time to make it into a kirtle.  James Jamieson and James Baird would, by her advice, have recovered their plough-irons, which had been stolen, had it not been the will of fate that William Dougal, sheriff’s officer, one of the parties searching for them, should accept a bribe of three pounds not to find them.  In short, although she lost a lace which Thome Reid gave her out of his own hand, which, tied round women in childbirth, had the power of helping their delivery, Bessy Dunlop’s profession of a wise woman seems to have flourished indifferently well till it drew the evil eye of the law upon her.