Page:Tales of my landlord (Volume 4).djvu/167

 As the stranger declined her courteous offers, Cuddie, the reader's old acquaintance, made his appearance in person. His countenance; still presented the same mixture of apparent dullness, with occasional, sparkles, which indicated the craft so often found in the clouted shoe. He looked on the rider as on one whom he never had before seen; and, like his daughter and wife, opened the conversation with the regular query, "What's your wull wi' me, sir?"

"I have a curiosity to ask some questions about this country," said the traveller, "and I was directed to you as an intelligent man who can answer them."

"Nae doubt, sir," said Cuddie, after a moment's hesitation; "but I would first like to ken what sort of questions they are. I hae had sae mony questions speered at me in my day and in sic queer ways, that if ye kend a', ye wadna wonder at my jealousing a' thing about them. My mother, gar'd me learn the Single Carritch,