Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series - 1819.djvu/146

136 sleeve which should have been occupied by his right arm, were evidence of his hard and honourable service. His weather-beaten features, his grey hair tied in a thin queue in the military fashion of former days, and the right side of his head a little turned up, the better to catch the sound of the clergyman's voice, were all marks of his profession and infirmities. Beside him sat his sister Janet, a little neat old woman, with a Highland curch and tartan plaid, watching the very looks of her brother, to her the greatest man upon earth, and actively looking out for him, in his silver-clasped Bible, the texts which the minister quoted or expounded.

I believe it was the respect that was universally paid to this worthy veteran by all ranks in Ganderscleugh which induced him to chuse our village for his residence, for such was by no means his original intention.

He had risen to the rank of serjeant-major of artillery, by hard service in various