'I cud jist say the word efter auld Simeon,' said MacGregor.

'I never thocht to be sae favoured! Eh! but I hae langed, and noo I
hae spoken!' with which words he sat down, contented.

When Mr. Cocker overtook his master, as MacGregor had not unfitly
styled him, he only got a damning for his pains, and went home
considerably crestfallen.

Lord Rothie returned to the landlady in her parlour.

'What's the maitter wi' ye, my lord? What's vexed ye?' asked Miss
Napier, with a twinkle in her eyes, for she thought, from the
baron's mortification, he must have received some rebuff, and now
that the bonnie leddy was safe at Captain Forsyth's, enjoyed the
idea of it.

'Ye keep an ill-tongued hoose, Miss Naper,' answered his lordship.

Miss Napier guessed at the truth at once--that he had overheard some
free remarks on his well-known licence of behaviour.

'Weel, my lord, I do my best. A body canna keep an inn and speir
the carritchis (catechism) at the door o' 't. But I believe ye're
i' the richt, my lord, for I heard an awfu' aff-gang o' sweirin' i'
the yard, jist afore yer lordship cam' in. An' noo' 'at I think o'
't, it wasna that onlike yer lordship's ain word.'

Lord Sandy broke into a loud laugh. He could enjoy a joke against
himself when it came from a woman, and was founded on such a trifle