'Well, sir, and where's the harm of being born there, provided you get away from it as early as you can, and never go back to it till you can help!'
'Why, Ferguson, that's spoken like a true patriot.'
'Indeed, sir, I hope I am wise enough not to hold a place the better for having produced such a poor creature as myself,' said John, who could always give a good account of himself in an argument.
But once established at Larkhall, Ferguson found himself so comfortable that, at the end of the fortnight's visit of my friends, he again made objection to packing up, which I was in the mood to listen to indulgently.
'It seems a pity like to leave the place till the shooting season's over, don't it, sir?' he hazarded one morning.
'Yes, Ferguson, perhaps it does.'
'The Continent wouldn't run away if it was left to look after itself a few weeks longer, would it, sir?' he went on.
'No, Ferguson, perhaps it wouldn't,' said I.
'Shall I leave the packing till to-morrow, sir?' he then asked.
'Well, yes, I think you may.'