trick on ye, for I was out at the window-bole when your auld back was turned, and awa' down by to hae a baff at the popinjay, and I shot within twa o't. I cheated the leddy for your clavers, but I wasna gaun to cheat my joe. But she may marry whae she likes now, for I'm clean dung ower. This is a waur dirdum than we got frae Mr Gudyill when ye garr'd me refuse to eat the plumb-parridge on Yule-eve, as if it were ony matter to God or man whether a ploughman lad supped on minched pies or sour sowens."
"O, whisht, my bairn, whisht," replied Mause; "thou kens nae about thae things—It was forbidden meat, things dedicated to set days and holidays, which are inhibited to the use of protestant Christians."
"And now," continued her son, "ye hae brought the leddy hersel on our hands!—An' I could but hae gotten some decent claes on, I wad hae spanged out o' bed, and tauld her I wad ride where she liked, night or day, an' she wad but leave us the
