--where is Conachar?"

"He is gone to bed, sir, with a headache," said Catharine, in a
hesitating voice.

"Go, call him, Dorothy," said the old glover; "I will not be used
thus by him: his Highland blood, forsooth, is too gentle to lay
a trencher or spread a napkin, and he expects to enter our ancient
and honourable craft without duly waiting and tending upon his
master and teacher in all matters of lawful obedience. Go, call
him, I say; I will not be thus neglected."

Dorothy was presently heard screaming upstairs, or more probably
up a ladder, to the cock loft, to which the recusant apprentice
had made an untimely retreat; a muttered answer was returned, and
soon after Conachar appeared in the eating apartment. There was a
gloom of deep sullenness on his haughty, though handsome, features,
and as he proceeded to spread the board, and arrange the trenchers,
with salt, spices, and other condiments--to discharge, in short,
the duties of a modern domestic, which the custom of the time imposed
upon all apprentices--he was obviously disgusted and indignant
with the mean office imposed upon him.

The Fair Maid of Perth looked with some anxiety at him, as if
apprehensive that his evident sullenness might increase her father's
displeasure; but it was not till her eyes had sought out his for a
second time that Conachar condescended to veil his dissatisfaction,
and throw a greater appearance of willingness and submission into
the services which he was performing.