"If your faether had na gi'en the bond--" "There is no saying what he wouldn't have done to the bailiffs," interrupted Dennis, who was following up a very different train of reasoning.
"I fear me, Doctor," observed Quill, "you are much behind us in Scotland.
Not but that some of your chieftains are respectable men, and wouldn't get on badly even in Galway." "I thank ye muckle for the compliment," said the doctor, dryly; "but I ha'e my doubts they'd think it ane, and they're crusty carls that's no' ower safe to meddle wi'." "I'd as soon propose a hand of 'spoiled five' to the Pope of Rome, as a joke to one of them," returned Maurice.
"May be ye are na wrang there, Maister Quell." "Well," cried Hampden, "if I may be allowed an opinion, I can safely aver I know no quarters like Scotland.

Edinburgh beyond anything or anywhere I was ever placed in." "Always after Dublin," interposed Maurice; while a general chorus of voices re-echoed the sentiment.
"You are certainly a strong majority," said my friend, "against me; but still I recant not my original opinion.

Edinburgh before the world.

For a hospitality that never tires; for pleasant fellows that improve every day of your acquaintance; for pretty girls that make you long for a repeal of the canon about being only singly blessed, and lead you to long for a score of them, Edinburgh,--I say again, before the world." "Their ankles are devilish thick," whispered Maurice.
"A calumny, a base calumny!" "And then they drink--" "Oh--" "Yes; they drink very strong tea." "Shall we ha'e a glass o' sherry together, Hampden ?" said the Scotch doctor, willing to acknowledge his defence of auld Reekie.
"And we'll take O'Malley in," said Hampden; "he looks imploringly." "And now to return to the charge," quoth Maurice.

"In what particular dare ye contend the palm with Dublin?
We'll not speak of beauty.