I offered him a share, as was much the custom in those days; but he was far too great a man to sit with such poor customers as Ransome and myself, and he was leaving the room, when I called him back to ask if he knew Mr.Rankeillor.
"Hoot, ay," says he, "and a very honest man.

And, O, by-the-by," says he, "was it you that came in with Ebenezer ?" And when I had told him yes, "Ye'll be no friend of his ?" he asked, meaning, in the Scottish way, that I would be no relative.
I told him no, none.
"I thought not," said he, "and yet ye have a kind of gliff* of Mr.
Alexander." * Look.
I said it seemed that Ebenezer was ill-seen in the country.
"Nae doubt," said the landlord.

"He's a wicked auld man, and there's many would like to see him girning in the tow*.

Jennet Clouston and mony mair that he has harried out of house and hame.

And yet he was ance a fine young fellow, too.