NOTWITHSTANDING the mental uneasinesses of the day, the body demanded a sound nap, and enjoyed the same for, I take it, not much less than nine uninterrupted hours.

In short, I did not awake until about eight in the morning—nor am I quite sure that I should have been stirring even then, had I been left entirely to nature and myself. At all events, when I had rubbed my eyes, I became aware that some strenuous altercation was going on very near me. It was a mere cottage, in which I had found my gite; and close to the door or the window I heard voices in disputation; one only of which (and there seemed to be at least three) I recognized—viz. that of my own man, the excellent and faithful Robin Keir:—as thus:

“Wauken, or no wauken, I maun be in—that's the short and the lang o’t—Gae away, gae away—let me by.”

“The big deil's in the body!—for a’ your blawin’, ye’se get ne’er a fit.”

“Misca’ing the King's officer, ye flunkie?”

“I’m nae flunkie, ye ill-tongued offisher; I’m the laird's ain man, and I’m come o’ better folk, too, than e’er birstled their shins at your father's peats. Ye’se get ne’er a fit farther the noo, I say.”

“Sile—e—e—ence!!!—George, by the grace of God——”

“We hear ye, body, we’re no sae deaf. Ye may keep some o’ your breath to cool your porridge——”

“—Of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland——Ki—i—ing!”

“Hullo!—hullo!—Tam!”

“Wheesht, wheesht, Johnnie, man—he's a bailie——”

“Of Great Britain and Ireland—King—greeting——”

“King George greeting!—eh! man, that's but bairnly.”

“Dinna read a’ that havers, man; just tell us what ye’re wanting wi’ him.”

“That's liker reason, now: Has he seen my lord yet?”

“Seen him? We’re just on our gate frae his house yonder.”

“They have met, then?”

“Met?—Ay, met and parted baith, to be sure: what are ye at wi’ sic daft-like speirings?”

“Eh! where was the meeting, man?”

“We forgathered, the first time, on the moor, just aboon my lord's lodgings.”