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himself upon the mercy of the inmates of  a house where he knew he would not be   well received; but necessity has no law, and his invention had no bounds. He re- solved on the attempt, trusting to the mo- ment for an answer to any objection that might be urged against him. In these times formality was less regarded than now. Jock threaded the narrow trance with as much dexterity as the awkward dimensions of his burden would permit, and presented him- self at the mid door, with as much composure as if he had known he should be well re- ceived. "Peace be here," said he with confidence. It was some time before the collyshang, kicked up by the sheperds' dogs on the entrance of a stranger, had so far subsided that he could announce his inten- tion of bivouacking by the fire for a night “Na na, Jock, ye's no be here." "What for?” said he. “Because," answered the  gudeman, "last time ye war here, when ye   gaed away, ye said my prayer amang a' the neebour hooses." "O," observed Jock  with indifference, “is that a? If there's.   nocht mair against me than that, say nae   mair about it. I'll tak' the book mysel the   nicht.“ "Weel Weel, Jock," was the   gudeman's reply, "we'll tak' ye at ye'r   word; let down ye'r pack, and come by