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

240
TALES OF THE BORDERS.
though his own domicile was in St. Mary’s Wynd, at the
other extremity of the High Street, his ambition had over¬
come his fears of his better half, and, still ascending the
long street, he resolved to accompany the deacon home;
not, however, without some strong misgivings as to what
he might encounter at his return. Both were in that happy
state of excitement when cares and fears press lightly on
the human mind; but the deacon, who had presided at
the meeting, and spoken a good deal, was much more over¬
come than his treasurer; and the liquor had made him
loquacious.
“ Tom, man,” again said the deacon, “ you walk by my
side as douce as if you were afraid to meet Major Weir in
his coach on your way dowrn the wynd to Kate. Be
cheerful man, as I am. Tell her she will be deaconess in
a fortnight, and that will quiet her clatter, or I know not
what will please her; they are all fond of honours. We
have done good work this night—secured two votes against
Drummond; other three would graze him. Pluck up your
spirit, Tom, and be active; if we fail, the whole town will
be turned upside down—confound him, and his wild pro¬
jects, of what he calls improvements! The deil be in me,
if I can help thinking—and it sticks in my gizzard yet—
that he was at the bottom of the pulling down of my out¬
side stair, by these drunken fellows of masons; the more
by token that, when, after much trouble, I discovered
them, and had them all safe in the guardhouse, he took a
small bail, and only fined them two shillings a-piece, when
it caused me an expense of ten good pounds to repair the
mischief they had done; and, more than that, I was forced
to erect it inside the walls; for they would not allow me to
put it as it was, or grant me a Dean of Guild warrant on
any other terms. They said it cumbered the foot-pave¬
ment, although, as you know, it had stood for fifty years.
From that day to this I have been his firm opponent in