There was ance a laird--that's Macfie of Gudgeonford,--he had a great number of kain hens--that's hens that the tenant pays to the landlord, like a sort of rent in kind.

They aye feed mine very ill; Luckie Finniston sent up three that were a shame to be seen only last week, and yet she has twelve bows sowing of victual; indeed her goodman, Duncan Finniston--that's him that's gone--( we must all die, Mr.Mannering, that's ower true)--and, speaking of that, let us live in the meanwhile, for here's breakfast on the table, and the Dominie ready to say the grace.' The Dominie did accordingly pronounce a benediction, that exceeded in length any speech which Mannering had yet heard him utter.

The tea, which of course belonged to the noble Captain Hatteraick's trade, was pronounced excellent.

Still Mannering hinted, though with due delicacy, at the risk of encouraging such desperate characters.

'Were it but in justice to the revenue, I should have supposed--' 'Ah, the revenue lads'-- for Mr.Bertram never embraced a general or abstract idea, and his notion of the revenue was personified in the commissioners, surveyors, comptrollers, and riding officers whom he happened to know--'the revenue lads can look sharp eneugh out for themselves, no ane needs to help them; and they have a' the soldiers to assist them besides; and as to justice--you 'll be surprised to hear it, Mr.Mannering, but I am not a justice of peace!' Mannering assumed the expected look of surprise, but thought within himself that the worshipful bench suffered no great deprivation from wanting the assistance of his good-humoured landlord.