“What mair would ye hae?” said the fair beauty, whose name was Christie Johnstone. Then, appealing to his lordship as the likeliest to know, she added, “Nobeelity is jist a soond itsel, I'm tauld.”
The viscount, finding himself expected to say something on a topic he had not attended much to, answered dryly: “We must ask the republicans, they are the people that give their minds to such subjects.”
“And yon man,” asked Jean Carnie, “is he a lord, too?”
“I am his lordship's servant,” replied Saunders, gravely, not without a secret misgiving whether fate had been just.
“Na!” replied she, not to be imposed upon, “ye are statelier and prooder than this ane.”
“I will explain,” said his master. “Saunders knows his value; a servant like Saunders is rarer than an idle viscount.”
“My lord, my lord!” remonstrated Saunders, with a shocked and most disclamatory tone. “Rather!” was his inward reflection.
“Jean,” said Christie, “ye hae muckle to laern. Are ye for herrin' the day, vile count?”
“No! are you for this sort of thing?”
At this, Saunders, with a world of empressement, offered the Carnie some cake that was on the table.