be a plea at a', so firm and true is the laws of England on my side,
and the liberty of the subject."

All this was Greek and Hebrew to me; but it was plain that the
bailie, in his jaunt, had been guilty of some notour thing, wherein
the custom-house was concerned, and that he thought all the world
was acquaint with the same. However, no to balk him in any
communication he might be disposed to make me, I said:-

"What ye say, bailie, is great news, and I wish you meikle joy, for
I have had my fears about your situation for some time; but now that
the business is brought to such a happy end, I would like to hear
all the true particulars of the case; and that your tale and tidings
sha'na lack slackening, I'll get in the toddy bowl and the gardevin;
and with that, I winket to the mistress to take the bairns to their
bed, and bade Jenny Hachle, that was then our fee'd servant lass, to
gar the kettle boil. Poor Jenny has long since fallen into a great
decay of circumstances, for she was not overly snod and cleanly in
her service; and so, in time, wore out the endurance of all the
houses and families that fee'd her, till nobody would take her; by
which she was in a manner cast on Mrs Pawkie's hands; who, on
account of her kindliness towards the bairns in their childhood, has
given her a howf among us. But, to go on with what I was
rehearsing; the toddy being ordered, and all things on the table,
the bailie, when we were quiet by ourselves, began to say -

"Ye ken weel, Mr Pawkie, what I did at the 'lection for the member
and how angry ye were yoursel about it, and a' that. But ye were
greatly mista'en in thinking that I got ony effectual fee at the
time, over and above the honest price of my potatoes; which ye were