|
||||||||
It might be he might do sae, Robin, after fatiguewhilk has been my lot mair ways than ane this day. But, he continued, slowly filling up a little wooden stoup which might hold about three glasses, he was a moderate man of his bicker, as I am mysellHeres wussing health to ye, Robin (a sip), and your weelfare here and hereafter (another taste), and also to my cousin Helenand to your twa hopefu lads, of whom mair anon. So saying, he drank up the contents of the cup with great gravity and deliberation, while MacGregor winked aside to me, as if in ridicule of the air of wisdom and superior authority which the Bailie assumed towards him in their intercourse, and which he exercised when Rob was at the head of his armed clan, in full as great, or a greater degree, than when he was at the Bailies mercy in the Tolbooth of Glasgow. It seemed to me, that MacGregor wished me, as a stranger, to understand, that if he submitted to the tone which his kinsman assumed, it was partly out of deference to the rites of hospitality, but still more for the jests sake. As the Bailie set down his cup he recognised me, and giving me a cordial welcome on my return, he waived farther communication with me for the present. I will speak to your matters anon; I maun begin, as in reason, wi those of my kinsman.I presume, Robin, theres naebody here will carry aught o what I am gaun to say, to the town-council or elsewhere, to my prejudice or to yours? Make yourself easy on that head, cousin Nicol, answered MacGregor; the tae half o the gillies winna ken what ye say, and the tother winna carebesides that I wad stow the tongue out o the head o ony o them that suld presume to say ower again ony speech held wi me in their presence. Aweel, cousin, sic being the case, and Mr. Osbaldistone here being a prudent youth, and a safe friendIse plainly tell ye, ye are breeding up your family to gang an ill gate.Then clearing his voice with a preliminary hem, he addressed his kinsman, checking, as Malvolio proposed to do when seated in his state, his familiar smile with an austere regard of control.Ye ken yoursell ye haud light by the lawand for my cousin Helen, forbye that her reception o me this blessed day, whilk I excuse on account of perturbation of mind, was muckle on the north side o friendly, I say (out-putting this personal reason of complaint) I hae that to say o your wife Say nothing of her, kinsman, said Rob, in a grave and stern tone, but what is befitting a friend to say, and her husband to hear. Of me you are welcome to say your full pleasure. Aweel, aweel, said the Bailie, somewhat disconcerted, wese let that be a pass-overI dinna approve of making mischief in familiesBut here are your twa sons, Hamish and Robin, whilk signifies, as Im gien to understand, James and RobertI trust ye will call them sae in futurethere comes nae gude o Hamishes, and Eachines, and Angusses, except that theyre the names ane aye chances to see in the indictments at the Western Circuits for cow-lifting, at the instance of his Majestys advocate for his Majestys interestaweel, but the twa lads, as I was saying, they haena sae muckle as the ordinar grunds, man, of liberal educationthey dinna ken the very multiplication-table itself, whilk is the root of a usefu knowledge, and they did naething but laugh and fleer at me when I tauld them my mind on their ignoranceIts my belief they can neither read, write, nor cipher, if sic a thing could be believed o anes ain connections in a Christian land. If they could, kinsman, said MacGregor, with great indifference, their learning must have come o free will, for whar the deil was I to get them a teacher?wad ye hae had me put on the gate o your Divinity Hall at Glasgow College, Wanted, a tutor for Rob Roys bairns? Na, kinsman, replied Mr. Jarvie, but ye might hae sent the lads whar they could hae learned the fear o God, and the usages of civilised creatures. They are as ignorant as the kyloes ye used to drive to market, or the very English churls that ye sauld them to, and can do naething whatever to purpose. |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details. | ||||||||