'Gentlemen,' responded Mr. Innes, taking a huge pinch of snuff after
the word, and then, passing the box to Mr. Cocker, a sip from his
glass before he went on: 'the phrase, gentlemen, "a drap i' the
hoose," no doobt refers to an undesirable 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 lugs 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 pelican o' the wilderness?'

Mr. Lammie was a large, mild man, with florid cheeks, no whiskers,
and a prominent black eye. He was characterized by a certain simple
alacrity, a gentle, but outspeaking readiness, which made him a