He ate sparingly of these provisions; and a glass of pure water, sparkling from the fountain-head, completed his repast.

Such, his servant said, had been his lordship's diet for very many years, unless upon the high festivals of the Church, or when company of the first rank were entertained at Glenallan House, when he relaxed a little in the austerity of his diet, and permitted himself a glass or two of wine.

But at Monkbarns, no anchoret could have made a more simple and scanty meal.
The Antiquary was a gentleman, as we have seen, in feeling, but blunt and careless in expression, from the habit of living with those before whom he had nothing to suppress.

He attacked his noble guest without scruple on the severity of his regimen.
"A few half-cold greens and potatoes--a glass of ice-cold water to wash them down--antiquity gives no warrant for it, my lord.

This house used to be accounted a hospitium, a place of retreat for Christians; but your lordship's diet is that of a heathen Pythagorean, or Indian Bramin--nay, more severe than either, if you refuse these fine apples." "I am a Catholic, you are aware," said Lord Glenallan, wishing to escape from the discussion, "and you know that our church"---- "Lays down many rules of mortification," proceeded the dauntless Antiquary; "but I never heard that they were quite so rigorously practised--Bear witness my predecessor, John of the Girnel, or the jolly Abbot, who gave his name to this apple, my lord." And as he pared the fruit, in spite of his sister's "O fie, Monkbarns!" and the prolonged cough of the minister, accompanied by a shake of his huge wig, the Antiquary proceeded to detail the intrigue which had given rise to the fame of the abbot's apple with more slyness and circumstantiality than was at all necessary.