Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/187

 loan of it for this morning, and I shall return it immediately, as you must doubtless often want it through the day." "Na, na," returned Mrs MacClarty, "I dinna fash wi' sae mony fykes. There's ay water standing in some thing or other, for ane to ca their hands through when they're blacket. The gudeman indeed is a wee conceity like yoursel', an he coft a brown bason for his shaving in on Saturdays, but its in use a' the week haddin' milk, or I'm sure ye'd be welcome to it. I sall see an' get it ready for you the morn."

Poor Mrs Mason, on whose nerves the image presented by this description of the alternate uses of the utensil in question, produced a sensible effect, could scarce command voice to thank her cousin for the civil offer. Being, however, under the necessity of chusing for the present, she, without hesitation, preferred the calf's bicker to the porridge plate: and indeed, considered thc calf as being so much the cleanlier animal than his mistress, that