"Weel, that's kindly said! We are auld neighbours, an we werenae kin--and my gude-dame's fain to see you--she clavers aboutyour portlyher that was killed lang syne."

"Hush, hush, Hobbie--not a word about that--it's a tale much betterforgotten."

"I dinna ken--if it had chanced amang our folk, we wad hae keepitit in mind mony a day till we got some mends for't--but ye kenyour ain ways best, you lairds--I sometimes have heard say that Ellieslaw'sfriend stickit your sire after the laird himsell had masteblack hissword."

"Fie, fie, Hobbie; it was a foolish brawl, occasioned by wine andpolitics--many swords were drawn--it is impossible to say whostruck the blow."

"At ony rate, auld Ellieslaw was aiding and abetting; and I amsure if ye were sae disposed as to take amends on him, naebodycould say it was wrang, for your father's blood is beneath hisnails--and besides there's naebody else left that was concernedto take amends upon, and he's a prelatist and a jacobite into thebargain--I can tell ye the country folk look for something atweenye."