Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 1 - 1819.djvu/286

276 triumph of successful invention, "a's provided now—dinner and a' thing—the thunner's done a' in a clap of a hand!"—

"Puir man, he's muckle astray," said Mysie, looking at him with a mixture of pity and alarm; "I wish he may ever come hame to himsell again."

"Here, ye auld doited deevil," said Caleb, still exulting in his extrication from a dilemma which seemed insurmountable; "keep the strange man out of the kitchen—swear the thunner came down the chimley, and spoiled the best dinner ye ever dressed—beef—bacon—kid—lark—leveret—wild-fowl—venison, and what not. Lay it on thick, and never mind expences. I'll awa' up to the ha'—make a' the confusion ye can—but be sure ye keep out the strange servant."

With these charges to his ally, Caleb posted up to the hall, but stopping to reconnoitre through an aperture, which time, for the convenience of many a domestic in succession, had made in the door, and