Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 2 - 1819.djvu/305

Rh than ye could hae been in jour ain auld ruins up bye yonder, as the case stands wi' us now?—the mair's the pity."

"I believe you may be right, Caleb; but, before burning down my castle, either in jest or in earnest," said Ravenswood, "I I think I had a right to be in the secret."

"Fie for shame, your honour!" replied Caleb; "it fits an auld carle like ne weel eneugh to tell lees for the credit of the family, but it wadna beseem the like o' your honours sell; besides, young folk are no judicious—they cannot make the maist of a bit figment. Now this fire—for a fire it sall be, if I suld burn the auld stable to make it mair feasible—this fire, besides that it will be an excuse for asking ony thing we want through the country, or doun at the haven—this fire will settle mony things on an honourable footing for the family's credit, that cost me telling twenty daily lees to a wheen idle chaps and queans, and, what's waur, without gaining credence."

"That was hard indeed, Caleb; but I