ask your pardon,' he said. 'I forgot but ye had been a bairn o' my
ain; the Captain's sae namely, he gars ane forget himsell.'

Old Pleydell now advanced. 'Nay, if fees like these are going,' he
said--

'Stop, stop, Mr. Pleydell,' said Julia, 'you had your fees
beforehand; remember last night.'

'Why, I do confess a retainer,' said the Barrister; 'but if I
don't deserve double fees from both Miss Bertram and you when I
conclude my examination of Dirk Hatteraick to-morrow--Gad, I will
so supple him! You shall see, Colonel; and you, my saucy misses,
though you may not see, shall hear.'

'Ay, that's if we choose to listen, Counsellor,' replied Julia.

'And you think,' said Pleydell, 'it's two to one you won't choose
that? But you have curiosity that teaches you the use of your ears
now and then.'

'I declare, Counsellor,' answered the lively damsel, 'that such
saucy bachelors as you would teach us the use of our fingers now
and then.'

'Reserve them for the harpsichord, my love,' said the Counsellor.
'Better for all parties.'

While this idle chat ran on, Colonel Mannering introduced to
Bertram a plain good-looking man, in a grey coat and waistcoat,