Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 1 - 1819.djvu/314

304 the right side, I trow," quoth Caleb to himself; "and I had ance the ill hap to say he was but a Johnie Newcome in our town, and the carle bore the family an ill-will ever since. But he married a bonnie young quean, Jean Lightbody, auld Lightbody's daughter, him that was in the steading of Loup-the-Dyke,—that was married himsel to Marion, that was about my lady in the family forty years syne—I hae had mony a day's daffing wi' Jean's mither, and they say she bides on wi' them—the carle has Jacobuses and Georgiuses baith, an' ane could get at them—and sure I am, it's doing him an honour him or his never deserved at our hand, the ungracious sumph; and if he loses by us a' thegither, he is e'en cheap o't, he can spare it brawly."

Shaking off irresolution, therefore, and turning at once upon his heel, Caleb walked hastily back to the cooper's house, lifted the latch without ceremony, and, in a moment, found himself behind the hallan, or partition, from which position he could, himself