Scotland/Scots > Wilson's tales of the Borders and of Scotland > Volume 3

72
TALES OF THE BORDERS.
this kind in our part o’ the country. Faith, Willie, lad,
ye fell on yer feet whan ye cam here. The best in the
hoose! Naething less, as I’m a sinner; and as much
drink as”—here Willie hiccupped violently—“as ony
decent man wad wish to hae under his belt—that’s, no to
be the waur o’t; and, to crown a’, a bed that micht ser’
the King himsel. This is what I ca’ treatin a man week
And such a canty hearty cock o’ a landlord, too! I haena
seen his match this mony a day, and I’m fear’d they’re
owre thin sawn for me to see’t for mony a day to come.”
And here Willie paused for a considerable time, to indulge
in fancies which were either too profound or came top thick
for utterance. At length, however, starting up from his
reverie, having been unable, evidently, to make anything
of his conjecture, “I’m much obliged to him, at ony rate,”
lie muttered, “ and that’s a’ I can say about it.” And,
immediately after, he tumbled into bed. Willie, however,
had not lain here more than a minute, when his attention
was attracted by a low murmuring, as if of two persons in
conversation in the adjoining apartment.
The partition, which was close by his ear, was of wood; and
he found that, by listening attentively, he could gather pretty
fully all that passed; and to this employment, therefore, he
immediately betook himself, when he discovered that the
laird and his wife were the speakers. The result of Willie’s
application on this occasion was his overhearing the follow¬
ing conversation. His own share of it, as it was of course
interjectional and inaudible to the parties, we put within
parentheses.
“But are ye sure it’s him, John, after a’?” said the
laird’s better half.
(“Him!—wha?” muttered Willie.)
“ Sure that it’s him, guidwife! ” replied the laird, hie
cupping at intervals as he spoke. “ Deil a doot’s o’ that!
Did ye ever ken me mistaen in my life, when I said I was