But no sooner were we beyond the view of the promenaders, than the fashion of his countenance changed.

"You tam lowland scoon'rel!" cries he, and hit me a buffet on the jaw with his closed fist.
I paid him as good or better on the return; whereupon he stepped a little back and took off his hat to me decorously.
"Enough plows I think," says he.

"I will be the offended shentleman, for who effer heard of such suffeeciency as tell a shentlemans that is the king's officer he cannae speak Cot's English?
We have swords at our hurdies, and here is the King's Park at hand.

Will ye walk first, or let me show ye the way ?" I returned his bow, told him to go first, and followed him.

As he went I heard him grumble to himself about _Cot's English_ and the _King's coat_, so that I might have supposed him to be seriously offended.