Then turning to the laird, he said, with a peculiar look and a hesitating expression: "Na, laird, it's no siller.

Aquafortis winna bite up' 't.

I wad mix 't wi' muriatic, an' try that, but I hae nane handy, an' forby it wad tak time to tell.

Ken ye whaur it cam frae ?--Ae thing I'm sure o'-- it's no siller!" "I'm sorry to hear it," rejoined the laird, with a faint smile and a little sigh.--"Well, we're no worse off than we were, Cosmo!--But poor Grizzie! she'll be dreadfully disappointed .-- Gie me the bit horsie, Jeames; we'll e'en tak' him hame again.

It's no his fau't, puir thing,'at he 's no better nor he was made!" "Wad ye no tell me whaur the bit thing cam frae, or is supposit to hae come frae, sir; H'ard ye it ever said, for enstance,'at the auld captain they tell o' had broucht it ?" "That's what I hae h'ard said," answered the laird.
"Weel, sir," returned Jeames, "gien ye had nae objection, I wad fain mak' oot what the thing _is_ made o'." "It matters little," said the laird, "seein' we ken what it 's _no_ made o'; but tak' yer wull o' 't, Jeames." "Sit ye doon than, laird, gien ye hae naething mair pressin', an' see what I mak' o' 't," said the watchmaker, setting him a chair.
"Wullin'ly," replied the laird, "-- but I dinna like takin' up yer time." "Ow, my time's no sae dooms precious! I can aye win throu' wi' my work ohn swatten," said Jeames, with a smile in which mingled a half comical sadness.