Now I should have voted there for the Laird of Balruddery; but ye see my father was a Jacobite, and out with Kenmore, so he never took the oaths; and I ken not weel how it was, but all that I could do and say, they keepit me off the roll, though my agent, that had a vote upon my estate, ranked as a good vote for auld Sir Thomas Kittlecourt.

But, to return to what I was saying, Luckie Howatson is very expeditious, for this lass--' Here the desultory and long-winded narrative of the Laird was interrupted by the voice of some one ascending the stairs from the kitchen story, and singing at full pitch of voice.

The high notes were too shrill for a man, the low seemed too deep for a woman.

The words, as far as Mannering could distinguish them, seemed to run thus:-- Canny moment, lucky fit! Is the lady lighter yet?
Be it lad, or be it lass, Sign wi' cross and sain wi' mass.
'It's Meg Merrilies, the gipsy, as sure as I am a sinner,' said Mr.
Bertram.

The Dominie groaned deeply, uncrossed his legs, drew in the huge splay foot which his former posture had extended, placed it perpendicularly, and stretched the other limb over it instead, puffing out between whiles huge volumes of tobacco smoke.