It is indeed a necessity of his nature for a Scot to have husks of reproach containing kernels of compliment, so that he may let out his heart and yet preserve his character as an austere person, destitute of vanity and sentiment.
"Accept your servant's thanks, my General.

I am highly honoured." And Kate made a sweeping courtesy, whereupon they both laughed merrily; and a log blazing up suddenly made an old Carnegie smile who had taken the field for Queen Mary, and was the very man to have delighted in a besom.
"When I was here in June"-- and the General stretched himself in a deep red leather chair--"I stood a while one evening watching a fair-haired, blue-eyed little maid who was making a daisy chain and singing to herself in a garden.

Her mother came out from the cottage, and, since she did not see me, devoured the child with eyes of love.

Then something came into her mind--perhaps that the good man would soon be home for supper; she rushed forward and seized the child, as if it had been caught in some act of mischief.

'Come into the hoose, this meenut, ye little beesom, an' say yir carritches.