Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 1 - 1819.djvu/338

328 "A bonnie-like thing," said the mother-in-law, "to send the innocent lad after an armed man, when ye ken Mr Balderstone aye wears a rapier."

"I trust," said the minuter, "ye have reflected weel on what ye have done, lest you should minister cause of strife, of which it is my duty to say, he who affordeth matter is in no manner guiltless."

"Never fash our beard, Mr Bide-the-bent—ane canna get their breath out here between wives and ministers—I ken best how to turn my ain cake.—Jean, serve up the dinner, and nae mair about it."

Nor did he again allude to the deficiency in the course of the evening.

Meantime, the foreman, mounted on his master's steed, and charged with his special orders, pricked swiftly forth in pursuit of the marauder Caleb. That personage, it may be imagined, did not linger by the way. He intermitted even his dearly-beloved chatter, for the purpose of making more haste—only assuring Mr Lockhard