more closely and mysteriously utter his sentiments; and standing
on tiptoe, and supporting himself by the cloak collars of tall men,
that he might dole out to them also the same share of information.
He felt himself one of the heroes of the affair, being conscious of
the dignity of superior information on the subject as an eyewitness,
and much disposed to push his connexion with the scuffle a few
points beyond the modesty of truth. It cannot be said that his
communications were in especial curious and important, consisting
chiefly of such assertions as these:

"It is all true, by St. John! I was there and saw it myself--was
the first to run to the fray; and if it had not been for me and
another stout fellow, who came in about the same time, they had
broken into Simon Glover's house, cut his throat, and carried his
daughter off to the mountains. It is too evil usage--not to be
suffered, neighbour Crookshank; not to be endured, neighbour Glass;
not to be borne, neighbours Balneaves, Rollock, and Chrysteson.
It was a mercy that I and that stout fellow came in, was it not,
neighbour and worthy Bailie Craigdallie?"

These speeches were dispersed by the busy bonnet maker into sundry
ears. Bailie Craigdallie, a portly guild brother, the same who
had advised the prorogation of their civic council to the present
place and hour, a big, burly, good looking man, shook the deacon
from his cloak with pretty much the grace with which a large horse
shrugs off the importunate fly that has beset him for ten minutes,
and exclaimed, "Silence, good citizens; here comes Simon Glover,
in whom no man ever saw falsehood. We will hear the outrage from
his own mouth."