Page:Stories of the two drovers and Countess of Exeter.pdf/13

 sell for the like of these——putbut [sic] I maun pebe [sic] wishing you goot night, and twenty of them, let alane ane, and I maun down to the Clachan to see if the lad Henry Waakfelt is out of his humdudgeons yet,”

The party at the alehouse were still in full talk, and the treachery of Robin Oig still the theme of conversation, when the supposed culprit entered the apartment. His arrival, as usually happens in such a case, put an instant stop to the discussion of which he had furnished the subject, and he was received by the company assembled with that chilling silence, which, more than a thousand exclamations, tells an intruder that he is unwelcome. Surprised and offended, but not appalled by the reception which he experienced, Robin entered with an undaunted, and even a haughty air, attempted no greeting as he saw he was received with none, and placed himself by the side of the fire, a little apart from a table, at which Harry Wakefield, the bailiff, and two or three other persons, were seated. The ample Cumbrian kitchen would have afforded plenty of room even for a larger separation.

Robin, thus seated, proceeded to light his pipe, and call for a pint of twopenny. “We have no twopence ale,” answered Ralph Heskett the landlord; but as thou find’st thy own tobacco, it’s like thou may’st find thine own liquor too——it’s the wont of thy country, I wot.” “Shame, goodman,” said the landlady, a blithe bustling housewife, hastening herself to supply the guest with liquor——“ Thou knowest well enow what the strange man wants, and it’s thy trade to be civil, man. Thou shouldst know, that if the Scot likes a small pot, he pays a sure penny.”

Without taking any notice of this nuptial dialogue, the Highlander took the flagon in his hand, and addressing the company generally, drank the interesting toast of “Good markets,” to the party assembled. “The bitter that the wind blew fewer dealers from the north,” said one of the farmers, “and fewer Highand runts to eat up the English meadows.” “Saul of