One or two clowns sat at some distance, drinking their twopenny ale.
'Are ye sure the parlour's ready for them, and the fire burning clear, and the chimney no smoking ?' said the hostess to a chambermaid.
She was answered in the affirmative.

'Ane wadna be uncivil to them, especially in their distress,' said she, turning to the Deacon.
'Assuredly not, Mrs.Mac-Candlish; assuredly not.

I am sure ony sma' thing they might want frae my shop, under seven, or eight, or ten pounds, I would book them as readily for it as the first in the country.

Do they come in the auld chaise ?' 'I daresay no,' said the precentor; 'for Miss Bertram comes on the white powny ilka day to the kirk--and a constant kirk-keeper she is--and it's a pleasure to hear her singing the psalms, winsome young thing.' 'Ay, and the young Laird of Hazlewood rides hame half the road wi' her after sermon,' said one of the gossips in company.

'I wonder how auld Hazlewood likes that.' 'I kenna how he may like it now,' answered another of the tea-drinkers; 'but the day has been when Ellangowan wad hae liked as little to see his daughter taking up with their son.' 'Ay, has been,' answered the first, with somewhat of emphasis.
'I am sure, neighbour Ovens,' said the hostess,'the Hazlewoods of Hazlewood, though they are a very gude auld family in the county, never thought, till within these twa score o' years, of evening themselves till the Ellangowans.