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 pretentiously
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.