Blood-raw he proved to be on this occasion, so that Oldbuck half threatened to throw the greasy sea-fowl at the head of the negligent housekeeper, who acted as priestess in presenting this odoriferous offering.

But, by good-hap, she had been most fortunate in the hotch-potch, which was unanimously pronounced to be inimitable.

"I knew we should succeed here," said Oldbuck exultingly, "for Davie Dibble, the gardener (an old bachelor like myself), takes care the rascally women do not dishonour our vegetables.

And here is fish and sauce, and crappit-heads--I acknowledge our womankind excel in that dish--it procures them the pleasure of scolding, for half an hour at least, twice a-week, with auld Maggy Mucklebackit, our fish-wife.

The chicken-pie, Mr.Lovel, is made after a recipe bequeathed to me by my departed grandmother of happy memory--And if you will venture on a glass of wine, you will find it worthy of one who professes the maxim of King Alphonso of Castile,--Old wood to burn--old books to read--old wine to drink--and old friends, Sir Arthur--ay, Mr.Lovel, and young friends too, to converse with." "And what news do you bring us from Edinburgh, Monkbarns ?" said Sir Arthur; "how wags the world in Auld Reekie ?" "Mad, Sir Arthur, mad--irretrievably frantic--far beyond dipping in the sea, shaving the crown, or drinking hellebore.