But it 's no a minister
I wad hae yer lordship confar wi'."
"Who then? Mrs Courthope? Eh?"
"Ow na, my lord--no Mistress Coorthoup! She 's a guid body, but
she wadna believe her ain een gien onybody ca'd a minister said
contrar' to them."
"Who the devil do you mean then?"
"Nae deevil, but an honest man 'at 's been his warst enemy sae lang
's I hae kent him: Maister Graham, the schuilmaister."
"Pooh!" said the marquis with a puff. "I'm too old to go to school."
"I dinna ken the man 'at isna a bairn till him, my lord."
"In Greek and Latin?"
"I' richteousness an' trouth, my lord; in what's been an' what is
to be."
"What! has he the second sicht, like the piper?"
"He has the second sicht, my lord--but ane 'at gangs a sicht
farther than my auld daddy's."
"He could tell me then what's going to become of me?'
"As weel 's ony man, my lord."
"That 's not saying much, I fear."
"Maybe mair nor ye think, my lord."
"Well, take him my compliments, and tell him I should like to see
him," said the marquis, after a pause.
"He 'll come direckly, my lord."
"Of course he will!" said the marquis.
"Jist as readily, my lord, as he wad gang to ony tramp 'at sent
for 'im at sic a time," returned Malcolm, who did not relish either
the remark or its tone.
"What do you mean by that? You don't think it such a serious affair
--do you?"
"My lord, ye haena a chance."
The marquis was dumb. He had actually begun once more to buoy
himself up with earthly hopes.
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