Indeed, to be able to outdo and bully the whole Sucken (once more we use this barbarous phrase) in all athletic exercises, was one way to render easy the collection of dues which men would have disputed with a less formidable champion. Then, as to the deficiencies of the miller's wife, the dame was of opinion that they might be supplied by the activity of the miller's mother. 'I will keep house for the young folk myself, for the tower is grown very lonely,' thought Dame Glendinning, 'and to live near the kirk will be mair comfortable in my auld age; and then Edward may agree with his brother about the feu, more especially as he is a favourite with the sub-prior, and then he may live in the auld tower like his worthy father before him; and wha kens but Mary Avenel, high-blood as she is, may e'en draw in her stool to the chimney-nook, and sit down here for good and a'? It 's true she has no tocher, but the like of her for beauty and sense ne'er crossed my een; and I have kend every wench in the halidome of Saint Mary's—aye, and their mothers that bore them; aye, she is a sweet and a lovely creature as ever tied snood over brown hair; aye, and then, though her uncle keeps her out of her ain for the present time, yet it is to be thought the grey-goose shaft will find a hole in his coat of proof, as, God help us! it has done in many a better man's. And, moreover, if they should stand on. their pedigree and gentle race, Edward might say to them, that is to her gentle kith and kin, "Whilk o' ye was her best friend when she came down the glen to Glendearg in a misty evening, on a beast mair like a cuddie than aught else?" And if they tax him with churl's blood, Edward might say that, forby the old proverb, how
Makes gentle bleid;
all of which, but especially the last, show that he relied more on the strength of the outside than that of the inside of his skull.
Full big he was of brawn, and eke of bones;
That proved well, for wheresoe'r he cam;
At wrestling he wold bear away the ram;
He was short shoulder'd, broad, a thick gnar;
There n'as no door that he n'old heave of bar,
Or break it at a running with his head, &c.
