At that moment Miss Letty was standing4 at the back of Miss Napier's chair, leaning her arms upon it as she talked to her. This was her way of resting as often as occasion arose for a chat with her elder sister. Miss Letty's hair was gathered in a great knot at the top of her head, and little ringlets hung like tendrils down the sides of her face, the benevolence5 of which was less immediately striking than that of her sister's, because of the constant play of humour upon it, especially about the mouth. If a spirit of satire7 could be supposed converted into something Christian8 by an infusion9 of the tenderest loving-kindness and humanity, remaining still recognizable notwithstanding that all its bitterness was gone, such was the expression of Miss Letty's mouth, It was always half puckered10 as if in resistance to a comic smile, which showed itself at the windows of the keen gray eyes, however the mouth might be able to keep it within doors. She was neatly11 dressed in black silk, with a lace collar. Her hands were small and white.
The moment the traveller stopped at the door, Miss Napier started.
'Letty,' she said, 'wha's that? I could amaist sweir to Black Geordie's fit.'
'A' four o' them, I think,' returned Miss Letty, as the horse, notwithstanding, or perhaps in consequence of his fatigue13, began to paw and move about on the stones impatiently.
The rider had not yet spoken.
'He'll be efter some o' 's deevil-ma'-care sculduddery. But jist rin to the door, Letty, or Lizzy 'll be there afore ye, and maybe she wadna be ower ceevil. What can he be efter noo?'
'What wad the grew (grayhound) be efter but maukin (hare)?' returned Miss Letty.
Miss Letty obeyed.
'Wha's there?' she asked, somewhat sharply, as she opened it, 'that neither chaps (knocks) nor ca's?—Preserve 's a'! is't you, my lord?'
'A'body at The Boar's Heid kens Black Geordie as weel 's yer lordship's ain sel'. But whaur comes yer lordship frae in sic a nicht as this?'
'From Russia. Never dismounted between Moscow and Aberdeen. The ice is bearing to-night.'
And the baron18 laughed inside the upturned collar of his cloak, for he knew that strangely-exaggerated stories were current about his feats19 in the saddle.
'That's a lang ride, my lord, and a sliddery. And what's yer lordship's wull?'
'Muckle ye care aboot my lordship to stand jawin' there in a night like this! Is nobody going to take my horse?'
'I beg yer lordship's pardon. Caumill!—Yer lordship never said ye wanted yer lordship's horse ta'en. I thocht ye micht be gaein' on to The Bothie.—Tak' Black Geordie here, Caumill.—Come in to the parlour, my lord.'
'How d'ye do, Miss Naper?' said Lord Rothie, as he entered the room. 'Here's this jade20 of a sister of yours asking me why I don't go home to The Bothie, when I choose to stop and water here.'
'What'll ye tak', my lord?—Letty, fess the brandy.'
'Oh! damn your brandy! Bring me a gill of good Glendronach.'
'Rin, Letty. His lordship's cauld.—I canna rise to offer ye the airm-cheir, my lord.'
'I can get one for myself, thank heaven!'
'Lang may yer lordship return sic thanks.'
'For I'm only new begun, ye think, Miss Naper. Well, I don't often trouble heaven with my affairs. By Jove! I ought to be heard when I do.'
'Nae doobt ye will, my lord, whan ye seek onything that's fit to be gien ye.'
'True. Heaven's gifts are seldom much worth the asking.'
'Haud yer tongue, my lord, and dinna bring doon a judgment22 upo' my hoose, for it wad be missed oot o' Rothieden.'
'You're right there, Miss Naper. And here comes the whisky to stop my mouth.'
The Baron of Rothie sat for a few minutes with his feet on the fender before Miss Letty's blazing fire, without speaking, while he sipped24 the whisky neat from a wine-glass. He was a man about the middle height, rather full-figured, muscular and active, with a small head, and an eye whose brightness had not yet been dimmed by the sensuality which might be read in the condition rather than frame of his countenance25. But while he spoke14 so pleasantly to the Miss Napiers, and his forehead spread broad and smooth over the twinkle of his hazel eye, there was a sharp curve on each side of his upper lip, half-way between the corner and the middle, which reminded one of the same curves in the lip of his ancestral boar's head, where it was lifted up by the protruding26 tusks27. These curves disappeared, of course, when he smiled, and his smile, being a lord's, was generally pronounced irresistible28. He was good-natured, and nowise inclined to stand upon his rank, so long as he had his own way.
'Any customers by the mail to-night, Miss Naper?' he asked, in a careless tone.
'Naebody partic'lar, my lord.'
'I thought ye never let anybody in that wasn't particularly particular. No foot-passengers—eh?'
'Hoot, my lord! that's twa year ago. Gin I had jaloosed him to be a fren' o' yer lordship's, forby bein' a lord himsel', ye ken as weel 's I du that I wadna hae sent him ower the gait to Luckie Happit's, whaur he wadna even be ower sure o' gettin' clean sheets. But gin lords an' lords' sons will walk afit like ither fowk, wha's to ken them frae ither fowk?'
'Well, Miss Naper, he was no lord at all. He was nothing but a factor-body doon frae Glenbucket.'
'There was sma' hairm dune29 than, my lord. I'm glaid to hear 't. But what'll yer lordship hae to yer supper?'
'I would like a dish o' your chits and nears (sweetbreads and kidneys).'
'Noo, think o' that!' returned the landlady30, laughing. 'You great fowk wad hae the verra coorse o' natur' turned upside doon to shuit yersels. Wha ever heard o' caure (calves) at this time o' the year?'
'Well, anything you like. Who was it came by the mail, did you say?'
'I said naebody partic'lar, my lord.'
'Well, I'll just go and have a look at Black Geordie.'
'Verra weel, my lord.—Letty, rin an' luik efter him; and as sune 's he's roon' the neuk, tell Lizzie no to say a word aboot the leddy. As sure 's deith he's efter her. Whaur cud he hae heard tell o' her?'
Lord Rothie came, a moment after, sauntering into the bar-parlour, where Lizzie, the third Miss Napier, a red-haired, round-eyed, white-toothed woman of forty, was making entries in a book.
'She's a bonnie lassie that, that came in the coach to-night, they say, Miss Lizzie.'
'As ugly 's sin, my lord,' answered Lizzie.
'I hae seen some sin 'at was nane sae ugly, Miss Lizzie.'
'She wad hae clean scunnert (disgusted) ye, my lord. It's a mercy ye didna see her.'
'If she be as ugly as all that, I would just like to see her.'
Miss Lizzie saw she had gone too far.
'Ow, deed! gin yer lordship wants to see her, ye may see her at yer wull. I s' gang and tell her.'
And she rose as if to go.
'No, no. Nothing of the sort, Miss Lizzie. Only I heard that she was bonnie, and I wanted to see her. You know I like to look at a pretty girl.'
'That's ower weel kent, my lord.'
'Well, there's no harm in that, Miss Lizzie.'
'There's no harm in that, my lord, though yer lordship says 't.'
The facts were that his lordship had been to the county-town, some forty miles off, and Black Geordie had been sent to Hillknow to meet him; for in any weather that would let him sit, he preferred horseback to every other mode of travelling, though he seldom would be followed by a groom31. He had posted to Hillknow, and had dined with a friend at the inn. The coach stopping to change horses, he had caught a glimpse of a pretty face, as he thought, from its window, and had hoped to overtake the coach before it reached Rothieden. But stopping to drink another bottle, he had failed; and it was on the merest chance of seeing that pretty face that he stopped at The Boar's Head. In all probability, had the Marquis seen the lady, he would not have thought her at all such a beauty as she appeared in the eyes of Dooble Sanny; nor, I venture to think, had he thought as the shoemaker did, would he yet have dared to address her in other than the words of such respect as he could still feel in the presence of that which was more noble than himself.
Whether or not on his visit to the stable he found anything amiss with Black Geordie, I cannot tell, but he now begged Miss Lizzie to have a bedroom prepared for him.
It happened to be the evening of Friday, one devoted32 by some of the townspeople to a symposium33. To this, knowing that the talk will throw a glimmer34 on several matters, I will now introduce my reader, as a spectator through the reversed telescope of my history.
A few of the more influential35 of the inhabitants had grown, rather than formed themselves, into a kind of club, which met weekly at The Boar's Head. Although they had no exclusive right to the room in which they sat, they generally managed to retain exclusive possession of it; for if any supposed objectionable person entered, they always got rid of him, sometimes without his being aware of how they had contrived36 to make him so uncomfortable. They began to gather about seven o'clock, when it was expected that boiling water would be in readiness for the compound generally called toddy, sometimes punch. As soon as six were assembled, one was always voted into the chair.
On the present occasion, Mr. Innes, the school-master, was unanimously elected to that honour. He was a hard-featured, sententious, snuffy individual, of some learning, and great respectability.
I omit the political talk with which their intercommunications began; for however interesting at the time is the scaffolding by which existing institutions arise, the poles and beams when gathered again in the builder's yard are scarcely a subject for the artist.
The first to lead the way towards matters of nearer personality was William MacGregor, the linen37 manufacturer, a man who possessed38 a score of hand-looms or so—half of which, from the advance of cotton and the decline of linen-wear, now stood idle—but who had already a sufficient deposit in the hands of Mr. Thomson the banker—agent, that is, for the county-bank—to secure him against any necessity for taking to cotton shirts himself, which were an abomination and offence unpardonable in his eyes.
'Can ye tell me, Mr. Cocker,' he said, 'what mak's Sandy, Lord Rothie, or Wrathy, or what suld he be ca'd?—tak' to The Bothie at a time like this, whan there's neither huntin', nor fishin', nor shutin', nor onything o' the kin6' aboot han' to be playacks till him, the bonnie bairn—'cep' it be otters40 an' sic like?'
William was a shrunken old man, with white whiskers and a black wig41, a keen black eye, always in search of the ludicrous in other people, and a mouth ever on the move, as if masticating42 something comical.
'You know just as well as I do,' answered Mr. Cocker, the Marquis of Boarshead's factor for the surrounding estate. 'He never was in the way of giving a reason for anything, least of all for his own movements.'
'Somebody was sayin' to me,' resumed MacGregor, who, in all probability, invented the story at the moment, 'that the prince took him kissin' ane o' his servan' lasses, and kickit him oot o' Carlton Hoose into the street, and he canna win' ower the disgrace o' 't.'
''Deed for the kissin',' said Mr. Thomson, a portly, comfortable-looking man, 'that's neither here nor there, though it micht hae been a duchess or twa; but for the kickin', my word! but Lord Sandy was mair likly to kick oot the prince. Do ye min' hoo he did whan the Markis taxed him wi'—?'
This was a phrase well understood by the company, indicating the presence of some one unknown, or unfit to be trusted.
As he spoke he looked towards the farther end of the room, which lay in obscurity; for it was a large room, lighted only by the four candles on the table at which the company sat.
'Whaur, Mr. Cruickshank?' asked the dominie in a whisper.
'There,' answered Sampson Peddie, the bookseller, who seized the opportunity of saying something, and pointed44 furtively45 where the solicitor had only looked.
A dim figure was descried46 at a table in the farthest corner of the room, and they proceeded to carry out the plan they generally adopted to get rid of a stranger.
'Ye made use o' a curious auld21 Scots phrase this moment, Mr. Curshank: can ye explain hoo it comes to beir the meanin' that it's weel kent to beir?' said the manufacturer.
'Not I, Mr. MacGregor,' answered the solicitor. 'I'm no philologist47 or antiquarian. Ask the chairman.'
'Gentlemen,' responded Mr. Innes, taking a huge pinch of snuff after the word, and then, passing the box to Mr. Cocker, a sip23 from his glass before he went on: 'the phrase, gentlemen, “a drap i' the hoose,” no doobt refers to an undesirable48 presence, for ye're weel awaur that it's a most unpleasin' discovery, in winter especially, to find a drop o' water hangin' from yer ceiling; a something, in short, whaur it has no business to be, and is not accordingly looked for, or prepared against.'
'It seems to me, Mr. Innes,' said MacGregor, 'that ye hae hit the nail, but no upo' the heid. What mak' ye o' the phrase, no confined to the Scots tongue, I believe, o' an eaves-drapper? The whilk, no doobt, represents a body that hings aboot yer winnock, like a drap hangin' ower abune it frae the eaves—therefore called an eaves drapper. But the sort of whilk we noo speak, are a waur sort a'thegither; for they come to the inside o' yer hoose, o' yer verra chaumer, an' hing oot their lang lugs49 to hear what ye carena to be hard save by a dooce frien' or twa ower a het tum'ler.'
At the same moment the door opened, and a man entered, who was received with unusual welcome.
'Bless my sowl!' said the president, rising; 'it's Mr. Lammie!—Come awa', Mr. Lammie. Sit doon; sit doon. Whaur hae ye been this mony a day, like a pelican50 o' the wilderness51?'
Mr. Lammie was a large, mild man, with florid cheeks, no whiskers, and a prominent black eye. He was characterized by a certain simple alacrity52, a gentle, but outspeaking readiness, which made him a favourite.
'I dinna richtly mak' oot wha ye are,' he answered. 'Ye hae unco little licht here! Hoo are ye a', gentlemen? I s' discover ye by degrees, and pay my respecks accordin'.'
And he drew a chair to the table.
''Deed I wuss ye wad,' returned MacGregor, in a voice pretentiously53 hushed, but none the less audible. 'There's a drap in yon en' o' the hoose, Mr. Lammie.'
'Hoot! never min' the man,' said Lammie, looking round in the direction indicated. 'I s' warran' he cares as little aboot hiz as we care aboot him. There's nae treason noo a-days. I carena wha hears what I say.'
'For my pairt,' said Mr. Peddie, 'I canna help wonnerin' gin it cud be oor auld frien' Mr. Faukener.'
'Speyk o' the de'il—' said Mr. Lammie.
'Hoot! na,' returned Peddie, interrupting. 'He wasna a'thegither the de'il.'
'Haud the tongue o' ye,' retorted Lammie. 'Dinna ye ken a proverb whan ye hear 't? De'il hae ye! ye're as sharpset as a missionar'. I was only gaun to say that I'm doobtin' Andrew's deid.'
'Ay! ay!' commenced a chorus of questioning.
'Mhm!'
'Aaay!'
'What gars ye think that?'
'And sae he's deid!'
'He was a great favourite, Anerew!'
'Whaur dee'd he?'
'Aye some upsettin' though!'
'Ay. He was aye to be somebody wi' his tale.'
'Speyk nae ill o' the deid. Maybe they'll hear ye, and turn roon' i' their coffins55, and that'll whumle you i' your beds,' said MacGregor, with a twinkle in his eye.
'Ring the bell for anither tum'ler, Sampson,' said the chairman.
'What'll be dune wi' that factory place, noo? It'll be i' the market?'
'It's been i' the market for mony a year. But it's no his ava. It belangs to the auld leddy, his mither,' said the weaver56.
'Why don't you buy it, Mr. MacGregor, and set up a cotton mill? There's not much doing with the linen now,' said Mr. Cocker.
'Me!' returned MacGregor, with indignation. 'The Lord forgie ye for mintin' (hinting) at sic a thing, Mr. Cocker! Me tak' to coaton! I wad as sune spin the hair frae Sawtan's hurdies. Short fushionless dirt, that canna grow straucht oot o' the halesome yird, like the bonnie lint-bells, but maun stick itsel' upo' a buss!—set it up! Coorse vulgar stuff, 'at naebody wad weir12 but loup-coonter lads that wad fain luik like gentlemen by means o' the collars and ruffles—an' a' comin' frae the auld loom39! They may weel affoord se'enteen hunner linen to set it aff wi' 'at has naething but coaton inside the breeks o' them.'
'But Dr. Wagstaff says it's healthier,' interposed Peddie.
'I'll wag a staff till him. De'il a bit o' 't 's healthier! an' that he kens. It's nae sae healthy, an' sae it mak's him mair wark wi' 's poothers an' his drauchts, an' ither stinkin' stuff. Healthier! What neist?'
'Somebody tellt me,' said the bookseller, inwardly conscious of offence, ''at hoo Lord Sandy himsel' weirs57 cotton.'
'Ow 'deed, maybe. And he sets mony a worthy58 example furbye. Hoo mony, can ye tell me, Mr. Peddie, has he pulled doon frae honest, if no frae high estate, and sent oot to seek their livin' as he taucht them? Hoo mony—?'
'Hoot, hoot! Mr. MacGregor, his lordship hasn't a cotton shirt in his possession, I'll be bound,' said Mr. Cocker. 'And, besides, you have not to wash his dirty linen—or cotton either.'
'That's as muckle as to say, accordin' to Cocker, that I'm no to speik a word against him. But I'll say what I like. He's no my maister,' said MacGregor, who could drink very little without suffering in his temper and manners; and who, besides, had a certain shrewd suspicion as to the person who still sat in the dark end of the room, possibly because the entrance of Mr. Lammie had interrupted the exorcism.
The chairman interposed with soothing59 words; and the whole company, Cocker included, did its best to pacify60 the manufacturer; for they all knew what would be the penalty if they failed.
A good deal of talk followed, and a good deal of whisky was drunk. They were waited upon by Meg, who, without their being aware of it, cast a keen parting glance at them every time she left the room. At length the conversation had turned again to Andrew Falconer's death.
'Whaur said ye he dee'd, Mr. Lammie?'
'I never said he was deid. I said I was feared 'at he was deid.'
'An' what gars ye say that? It micht be o' consequence to hae 't correck,' said the solicitor.
'I had a letter frae my auld frien' and his, Dr. Anderson. Ye min' upo' him, Mr. Innes, dunna ye? He's heid o' the medical boord at Calcutta noo. He says naething but that he doobts he's gane. He gaed up the country, and he hasna hard o' him for sae lang. We hae keepit up a correspondence for mony a year noo, Dr. Anderson an' me. He was a relation o' Anerew's, ye ken—a second cousin, or something. He'll be hame or lang, I'm thinkin', wi' a fine pension.'
'He winna weir a cotton sark, I'll be boon',' said MacGregor.
'What's the auld leddy gaein' to du wi' that lang-leggit oye (grandson) o' hers, Anerew's son?' asked Sampson.
'Ow! he'll be gaein' to the college, I'm thinkin'. He's a fine lad, and a clever, they tell me,' said Mr. Thomson.
'Indeed, he's all that, and more too,' said the school-master.
'There's naething 'ull du but the college noo!' said MacGregor, whom nobody heeded61, for fear of again rousing his anger.
'Hoo 'ill she manage that, honest woman? She maun hae but little to spare frae the cleedin' o' 'm.'
'She's a gude manager, Mistress Faukner. And, ye see, she has the bleachgreen yet.'
'She doesna weir cotton sarks,' growled62 MacGregor. 'Mony's the wob o' mine she's bleached63 and boucht tu!'
Nobody heeding64 him yet, he began to feel insulted, and broke in upon the conversation with intent.
'Ye haena telt 's yet, Cocker,' he said, 'what that maister o' yours is duin' here at this time o' the year. I wad ken that, gin ye please.'
'How should I know, Mr. MacGregor?' returned the factor, taking no notice of the offensive manner in which the question was put.
'He's no a hair better nor ane o' thae Algerine pirates 'at Lord Exmooth's het the hips65 o'—and that's my opingon.'
'He's nae amo' your feet, MacGregor,' said the banker. 'Ye micht jist lat him lie.'
'Gin I had him doon, faith gin I wadna lat him lie! I'll jist tell ye ae thing, gentlemen, that cam' to my knowledge no a hunner year ago. An' it's a' as true 's gospel, though I hae aye held my tongue aboot it till this verra nicht. Ay! ye'll a' hearken noo; but it's no lauchin', though there was sculduddery eneuch, nae doobt, afore it cam' that len'th. And mony a het drap did the puir lassie greet, I can tell ye. Faith! it was no lauchin' to her. She was a servan' o' oors, an' a ticht bonnie lass she was. They ca'd her the weyver's bonny Mary—that's the name she gaed by. Weel, ye see—'
MacGregor was interrupted by a sound from the further end of the room. The stranger, whom most of them had by this time forgotten, had risen, and was approaching the table where they sat.
'Guid guide us!' interrupted several under their breaths, as all rose, 'it's Lord Sandy himsel'!'
'I thank you, gentleman,' he said, with a mixture of irony66 and contempt, 'for the interest you take in my private history. I should have thought it had been as little to the taste as it is to the honour of some of you to listen to such a farrago of lies.'
'Lees! my lord,' said MacGregor, starting to his feet. Mr. Cocker looked dismayed, and Mr. Lammie sheepish—all of them dazed and dumbfoundered, except the old weaver, who, as his lordship turned to leave the room, added:
'Lang lugs (ears) suld be made o' leather, my lord, for fear they grow het wi' what they hear.'
Lord Rothie turned in a rage. He too had been drinking.
'Kick that toad67 into the street, or, by heaven! it's the last drop any of you drink in this house!' he cried.
'The taed may tell the poddock (frog) what the rottan (rat) did i' the taed's hole, my lord,' said MacGregor, whom independence, honesty, bile, and drink combined to render fearless.
Lord Sandy left the room without another word. His factor took his hat and followed him. The rest dropped into their seats in silence. Mr. Lammie was the first to speak.
'There's a pliskie!' he said.
'I cud jist say the word efter auld Simeon,' said MacGregor.
'I never thocht to be sae favoured! Eh! but I hae langed, and noo I hae spoken!' with which words he sat down, contented68.
When Mr. Cocker overtook his master, as MacGregor had not unfitly styled him, he only got a damning for his pains, and went home considerably69 crestfallen70.
Lord Rothie returned to the landlady in her parlour.
'What's the maitter wi' ye, my lord? What's vexed71 ye?' asked Miss Napier, with a twinkle in her eyes, for she thought, from the baron's mortification72, he must have received some rebuff, and now that the bonnie leddy was safe at Captain Forsyth's, enjoyed the idea of it.
'Ye keep an ill-tongued hoose, Miss Naper,' answered his lordship.
Miss Napier guessed at the truth at once—that he had overheard some free remarks on his well-known licence of behaviour.
'Weel, my lord, I do my best. A body canna keep an inn and speir the carritchis (catechism) at the door o' 't. But I believe ye're i' the richt, my lord, for I heard an awfu' aff-gang o' sweirin' i' the yard, jist afore yer lordship cam' in. An' noo' 'at I think o' 't, it wasna that onlike yer lordship's ain word.'
Lord Sandy broke into a loud laugh. He could enjoy a joke against himself when it came from a woman, and was founded on such a trifle as a personal vice73.
'I think I'll go to bed,' he said when his laugh was over. 'I believe it's the only safe place from your tongue, Miss Naper.'
'Letty,' cried Miss Napier, 'fess a can'le, and show his lordship to the reid room.'
Till Miss Letty appeared, the baron sat and stretched himself. He then rose and followed her into the archway, and up an outside stair to a door which opened immediately upon a handsome old-fashioned room, where a blazing fire lighted up the red hangings. Miss Letty set down the candle, and bidding his lordship good night, turned and left the room, shutting the door, and locking it behind her—a proceeding74 of which his lordship took no notice, for, however especially suitable it might be in his case, it was only, from whatever ancient source derived75, the custom of the house in regard to this particular room and a corresponding chamber76 on the opposite side of the archway.
Meantime the consternation77 amongst the members of the club was not so great as not to be talked over, or to prevent the call for more whisky and hot water. All but MacGregor, however, regretted what had occurred. He was so elevated with his victory and a sense of courage and prowess, that he became more and more facetious78 and overbearing.
'It's all very well for you, Mr. MacGregor,' said the dominie, with dignity: 'you have nothing to lose.'
'Troth! he canna brak the bank—eh, Mr. Tamson?'
'He may give me a hint to make you withdraw your money, though, Mr. MacGregor.'
'De'il care gin I do!' returned the weaver. 'I can mak' better o' 't ony day.'
'But there's yer hoose an' kailyard,' suggested Peddie.
'They're ma ain!—a' ma ain! He canna lay 's finger on onything o' mine but my servan' lass,' cried the weaver, slapping his thigh-bone—for there was little else to slap.
Meg, at the moment, was taking her exit-glance. She went straight to Miss Napier.
'Willie MacGregor's had eneuch, mem, an' a drappy ower.'
'Sen' Caumill doon to Mrs. MacGregor to say wi' my compliments that she wad do weel to sen' for him,' was the response.
Meantime he grew more than troublesome. Ever on the outlook, when sober, after the foibles of others, he laid himself open to endless ridicule79 when in drink, which, to tell the truth, was a rare occurrence. He was in the midst of a prophetic denunciation of the vices80 of the nobility, and especially of Lord Rothie, when Meg, entering the room, went quietly behind his chair and whispered:
'Maister MacGregor, there's a lassie come for ye.'
'I'm nae in,' he answered, magnificently.
'But it's the mistress 'at's sent for ye. Somebody's wantin' ye.'
'Somebody maun want me, than.—As I was sayin', Mr. Cheerman and gentlemen—'
'Mistress MacGregor 'll be efter ye hersel', gin ye dinna gang,' said Meg.
'Let her come. Duv ye think I'm fleyt at her? De'il a step 'll I gang till I please. Tell her that, Meg.'
Meg left the room, with a broad grin on her good-humoured face.
'What's the bitch lauchin' at?' exclaimed MacGregor, starting to his feet.
The whole company rose likewise, using their endeavour to persuade him to go home.
'Duv ye think I'm drunk, sirs? I'll lat ye ken I'm no drunk. I hae a wull o' mine ain yet. Am I to gang hame wi' a lassie to haud me oot o' the gutters81? Gin ye daur to alloo that I'm drunk, ye ken hoo ye'll fare, for de'il a fit 'll I gang oot o' this till I hae anither tum'ler.'
'I'm thinkin' there's mair o' 's jist want ane mair,' said Peddie.
A confirmatory murmur82 arose as each looked into the bottom of his tumbler, and the bell was instantly rung. But it only brought Meg back with the message that it was time for them all to go home. Every eye turned upon MacGregor reproachfully.
'Ye needna luik at me that gait, sirs. I'm no fou,' said he.
''Deed no. Naebody taks ye to be,' answered the chairman. 'Meggie, there's naebody's had ower muckle yet, and twa or three o' 's hasna had freely eneuch. Jist gang an' fess a mutchkin mair. An' there'll be a shillin' to yersel', lass.'
'Miss Naper says there's no a drap mair drink to be had i' this hoose the nicht.'
'Here, Meggie,' said the chairman, 'there's yer shillin'; and ye jist gang to Miss Lettie, and gie her my compliments, and say that Mr. Lammie's here, and we haena seen him for a lang time. And'—the rest was spoken in a whisper—'I'll sweir to ye, Meggie, the weyver body sanna hae ae drap o' 't.'
Meg withdrew once more, and returned.
'Miss Letty's compliments, sir, and Miss Naper has the keys, and she's gane till her bed, and we maunna disturb her. And it's time 'at a' honest fowk was in their beds tu. And gin Mr. Lammie wants a bed i' this hoose, he maun gang till 't. An' here's his can'le. Gude nicht to ye a', gentlemen.'
So saying, Meg set the lighted candle on the sideboard, and finally vanished. The good-tempered, who formed the greater part of the company, smiled to each other, and emptied the last drops of their toddy first into their glasses, and thence into their mouths. The ill-tempered, numbering but one more than MacGregor, growled and swore a little, the weaver declaring that he would not go home. But the rest walked out and left him, and at last, appalled84 by the silence, he rose with his wig awry85, and trotted86—he always trotted when he was tipsy—home to his wife.
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1
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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2
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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3
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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4
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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5
benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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6
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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7
satire
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| n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品 | |
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8
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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9
infusion
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| n.灌输 | |
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10
puckered
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| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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12
weir
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| n.堰堤，拦河坝 | |
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13
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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14
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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15
ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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16
hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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17
kens
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| vt.知道（ken的第三人称单数形式） | |
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18
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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19
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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20
jade
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| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
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21
auld
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| adj.老的，旧的 | |
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22
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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23
sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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24
sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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26
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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27
tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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28
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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29
dune
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| n.(由风吹积而成的)沙丘 | |
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30
landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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31
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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32
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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33
symposium
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| n.讨论会，专题报告会；专题论文集 | |
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34
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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35
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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36
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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37
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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38
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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39
loom
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| n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近 | |
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40
otters
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| n.（水）獭( otter的名词复数 )；獭皮 | |
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41
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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42
masticating
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| v.咀嚼( masticate的现在分词 )；粉碎，磨烂 | |
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43
solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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44
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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45
furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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46
descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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47
philologist
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| n.语言学者，文献学者 | |
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48
undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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49
lugs
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| 钎柄 | |
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50
pelican
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| n.鹈鹕，伽蓝鸟 | |
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51
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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52
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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53
pretentiously
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54
crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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55
coffins
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| n.棺材( coffin的名词复数 )；使某人早亡[死，完蛋，垮台等]之物 | |
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56
weaver
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| n.织布工；编织者 | |
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57
weirs
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| n.堰，鱼梁（指拦截游鱼的枝条篱）( weir的名词复数 ) | |
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58
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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59
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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60
pacify
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| vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰 | |
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61
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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63
bleached
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| 漂白的，晒白的，颜色变浅的 | |
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64
heeding
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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65
hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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66
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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67
toad
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
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68
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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69
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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70
crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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71
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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72
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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73
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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74
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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75
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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76
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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77
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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78
facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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79
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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80
vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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81
gutters
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| （路边）排水沟( gutter的名词复数 )； 阴沟； （屋顶的）天沟； 贫贱的境地 | |
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82
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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83
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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84
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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85
awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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86
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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