sober, struck in with,

'Ye dinna ken a' thing yet, ye see, Robbie.'

>From Sandy this would have been nothing but a good-humoured attempt
at facetiousness. From Lumley it meant spite, because Robert's
praise was in his ears.

'I dinna preten' to ken ae hair mair than ye do yersel', Mr. Lumley;
and that's nae sayin' muckle, surely,' returned Robert, irritated at
his tone more than at his words.

The bystanders laughed, and Lumley flew into a rage.

'Haud yer ill tongue, ye brat,' he said. 'Wha' are ye to mak' sic
remarks upo' yer betters? A'body kens yer gran'father was naething
but the blin' piper o' Portcloddie.'

This was news to Robert--probably false, considering the quarter
whence it came. But his mother-wit did not forsake him.

'Weel, Mr. Lumley,' he answered, 'didna he pipe weel? Daur ye tell
me 'at he didna pipe weel?--as weel's ye cud hae dune 't yersel',
noo, Mr. Lumley?'

The laugh again rose at Lumley's expense, who was well known to have
tried his hand at most things, and succeeded in nothing. Dooble
Sanny was especially delighted.

'De'il hae ye for a de'il's brat! 'At I suld sweer!' was all