like the Jews at their Passover? and it was decided in a case
before the town-bailies of Cupar-Angus, when Luckie Simpson's cow
had drunk up Luckie Jamieson's browst of ale while it stood in
the door to cool, that there was no damage to pay, because the
crummie drank without sitting down; such being the very
circumstance constituting DOCH AN DORROCH, which is a standing
drink, for which no reckoning is paid. Ha, sir! what says your
advocateship (FIERI) to that? EXEPTIO FIRMAT REGULAM--But come,
fill your glass, Alan; I am not sorry ye have shown this
attention to Darsie Latimer, who is a good lad, as times go; and
having now lived under my roof since he left the school, why,
there is really no great matter in coming under this small
obligation to him.'

As I saw my father's scruples were much softened by the
consciousness of his superiority in the legal argument, I took
care to accept my pardon as a matter of grace, rather than of
justice; and only replied, we should feel ourselves duller of an
evening, now that you were absent. I will give you my father's
exact words in reply, Darsie. You know him so well, that they
will not offend you; and you are also aware, that there mingles
with the good man's preciseness and formality, a fund of shrewd
observation and practical good sense.

'It is very true,' he said; 'Darsie was a pleasant companion-but
over waggish, over waggish, Alan, and somewhat scatter-brained.
--By the way, Wilkinson must get our ale bottled in English pints
now, for a quart bottle is too much, night after night, for you
and me, without his assistance.--But Darsie, as I was saying, is
an arch lad, and somewhat light in the upper story--I wish him