I hae nae doobt it's correck." "Weel, lat him tak it, than, an' be thankfu'! for it's no more than was weel waured (spent) on him." With these conclusive words, Thomas departed.

He was no sooner out of the shop, than out started, from behind the deal boards that stood against the wall, Willie, the eldest hope of the house of Macwha, a dusky-skinned, black-eyed, curly-headed, roguish-looking boy, Alec Forbes's companion and occasional accomplice.

He was more mischievous than Alec, and sometimes led him into unforeseen scrapes; but whenever anything extensive had to be executed, Alec was always the leader.
"What are ye hidin' for, ye rascal ?" said his father.

"What mischeef hae ye been efter noo ?" "Naething by ordinar'," was Willie's cool reply.
"What garred ye hide, than ?" "Tam Crann never sets ee upo' me, but he misca's me, an' I dinna like to be misca'd, mair nor ither fowk." "Ye get nae mair nor ye deserve, I doobt," returned George.

"Here, tak the chisel, and cut that beadin' into len'ths." "I'm gaein' ower the water to speir efter Alec," was the excusatory rejoinder.
"Ay, ay! pot and pan!--What ails Alec noo ?" "Mr Malison's nearhan' killed him.