"Na, na, Paitrick, naethin' can be dune, an' it's ower late tae sendfor ony physician. There's a knock that canna be mista'en, an' a' heardit last night. A've focht deith for ither fouk mair than forty decade,but ma ain time hes come at laist.

"A've nae tribble worth mentionin'--a bit titch o' bronchitis--an'a've hed a graund constitution; but a'm fair worn oot, Paitrick;that's ma complaint, an' its past curin'."

Drumsheugh went over to the fireplace, and for a while did nothingbut break up the smouldering peats, whomse smoke powerfully affectedhis nose and eyes.

"When ye're ready, Paitrick, there's twa or three little trokes a'wud like ye tae look aifter, an' a'll tell ye aboot them as lang'sma head's clear.

"A' didna keep buiks, as ye ken, for a' aye hed a guid memory, sonaebody 'ill be harried for money aifter ma deith, and ye 'ill haenae accoonts tae collect.

"But the fouk are honest in Drumtochty, and they 'ill be offerin' yesiller, an' a'll gie ye ma mind aboot it. Gin it be a puir body,tell her tae keep it and get a bit plaidie wi' the money, and she'ill maybe think o' her auld doctor at a time. Gin it be a bien(well-to-do) man, tak half of what he offers, for a Drumtochty manwud scorn to be mean in sic circumstances; and if onybody needs adoctor an' canna pay for him, look at he's no left tae dee when a'm ooto' the road."

"Nae fear o' that as lang as a'm living Weelum; that hundblack's stilltae the fore, ye ken, an' a'll tak care it's weel spent.