Charles O'Malley — Volume 2 by Charles James Lever
page 59 of 600 (09%)
page 59 of 600 (09%)
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I don't imagine that our worthy friend participated in Quill's admiration of the "convaniency," for he added, in a dry tone:-- "Ye may as weel tak your liquor frae a glass, like a Christian, as stick your nose in a coo's horn." "By my conscience, you're no small judge of spirits, wherever you learned it," said the major; "it's like Islay malt!" "I was aye reckoned a gude ane," said the doctor, "and my mither's brither Caimbogie had na his like in the north country. Ye may be heerd tell what he aince said to the Duchess of Argyle, when she sent for him to taste her claret." "Never heard of it," quoth Quill; "let's have it by all means. I'd like to hear what the duchess said to him." "It was na what the duchess said to him, but what he said to the duchess, ye ken. The way of it was this: My uncle Caimbogie was aye up at the castle, for besides his knowledge of liquor, there was nae his match for deer-stalking, or spearing a salmon, in those parts. He was a great, rough carle, it's true; but ane ye'd rather crack wi' than fight wi'. "Weel, ae day they had a grand dinner at the duke's, and there were plenty o' great southern lords and braw leddies in velvets and satin; and vara muckle surprised they were at my uncle, when he came in wi' his tartan kilt, in full Highland dress, as the head of a clan ought to do. Caimbogie, however, pe'd nae attention to them; but he eat his dinner, and drank his wine, and talked away about fallow and red deer, and at last the duchess, |
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