Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series - 1819.djvu/145

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
INTRODUCTION.



Serjeant More M'Alpin was, during his residence among us, one of the most honoured inhabitants of Ganderscleugh. No one thought of disputing his title to the great leathern chair on the "cosiest side of the chimney," in the common room of the Wallace Arms, on a Saturday evening. No less would our sexton, John Duirward, have held it an unlicensed intrusion, to suffer any one to induct himself into the corner of the left-hand pew nearest to the pulpit, which the Serjeant regularly occupied on Sundays. There he sat, his blue invalid uniform brushed with the most scrupulous accuracy. Two medals of merit displayed at his button-hole, as well as the empty