One of them was a stranger who had been receiving from the others various pieces of information concerning the town and its neighbourhood.
"I min' the auld man weel," a wrinkled gray-haired man was saying as Donal entered, "-- a varra different man frae this present.

He wud sit doon as ready as no--that wud he--wi' ony puir body like mysel', an' gie him his cracks, an' hear his news, an' drink his glaiss, an' mak naething o' 't.

But this man, haith! wha ever saw him cheenge word wi' brither man ?" "I never h'ard hoo he came to the teetle: they say he was but some far awa' cousin!" remarked a farmer-looking man, florid and stout.
"Hoots! he was ain brither to the last yerl, wi' richt to the teetle, though nane to the property.

That he's but takin' care o' till his niece come o' age.

He was a heap aboot the place afore his brither dee'd, an' they war freen's as weel 's brithers.