"I don't know you nor your aims and purposes in this Grievance Committee business of yours.

If you want a steady job with a chance to get on, you will get both; if you want trouble, you can get that too, but not for long, here." Still the Scot held him with grave steady gaze, but speaking no word.
"You understand me, McNish ?" said Maitland, nettled at the man's silence.
"Aye, A've got a heid," he said in an impassive voice.
"Well, then, I hope you will govern yourself accordingly.

Good-day," said Maitland, closing the interview.
McNish still stood immovable.
"That's all I have to say," said Maitland, glancing impatiently at the man.
"But it's no all A have to say, if ye will pairmit me," answered McNish in a voice quiet and respectful and apparently, except for its Doric flavour, quite untouched by emotion of any kind soever.
"Go on," said Maitland shortly, as the Scot stood waiting.
"Maister Maitland," said McNish, rolling out a deeper Doric, "ye have made a promise and a threat.

Yere threat is naething tae me.

As tae yere job, A want it and A want tae get on, but A'm a free man the noo an' a free man A shall ever be.