"For the meat and lodging, Cuddie, I think I can promise something; but the penny-fee will be a hard chapter, I doubt." "I'll tak my chance o't, stir," replied the candidate for service, "rather than gang down about Hamilton, or ony sic far country." "Well; step into the kitchen, Cuddie, and I'll do what I can for you." The negotiation was not without difficulties.

Morton had first to bring over the housekeeper, who made a thousand objections, as usual, in order to have the pleasure of being besought and entreated; but, when she was gained over, it was comparatively easy to induce old Milnwood to accept of a servant, whose wages were to be in his own option.

An outhouse was, therefore, assigned to Mause and her son for their habitation, and it was settled that they were for the time to be admitted to eat of the frugal fare provided for the family, until their own establishment should be completed.

As for Morton, he exhausted his own very slender stock of money in order to make Cuddie such a present, under the name of arles, as might show his sense of the value of the recommendation delivered to him.
"And now we're settled ance mair," said: Cuddie to his mother, "and if we're no sae bien and comfortable as we were up yonder, yet life's life ony gate, and we're wi' decent kirk-ganging folk o' your ain persuasion, mither; there will be nae quarrelling about that." "Of my persuasion, hinnie!" said the too-enlightened Mause; "wae's me for thy blindness and theirs.

O, Cuddie, they are but in the court of the Gentiles, and will ne'er win farther ben, I doubt; they are but little better than the prelatists themsells.