Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 2 - 1819.djvu/293

green-gaislings!—the very pick-maws and solan-geese out by yonder at the Bass hae ten times their sense—God, an' I had been the Lord High Commissioner to the Estates o' Parliament, they couldna hae beflumm'd me mair—and, to speak Heaven's truth, I could hardly hae beflumm'd them better neither. But the writer—ha! ha! ha!—mercy on me, that I suld live in my auld days to gi'e the gang-bye to the very writer! Sheriff-clerk!!!—But I hae an auld account to settle wi' the carle; and to make amends for bye-ganes, the office shall just cost him as much time-serving and tide-serving, as if he were to get it in gude earnest—of whilk there is sma' appearance, unless the Master learns mair the ways of this warld, whilk it is muckle to be doubted that he never will."