One evening over their supper, he was opposing Mr Cupples's departure for the twentieth time. At length the latter said:
"Alec, I'll bide wi' ye till the neist session upon ae condition."
"What is that, Mr Cupples?" said Mrs Forbes. "I shall be delighted to know it."
"Ye see, mem, this young rascal here made a fule o' 'msel' last session and didna pass; and�-"
"Let bygones be bygones, if you please, Mr Cupples, said Mrs Forbes pleasantly.
"'Deed no, mem. What's the use o' byganes but to learn frae them hoo to meet the bycomes? Ye'll please to hear me oot; and gin Alec doesna like to hear me, he maun jist sit and hear me."
"Fire away, Mr Cupples," said Alec.
"I will.�-For them that didna pass i' the en' o' the last session, there's an examination i' the beginnin' o' the neist�-gin they like to stan' 't. Gin they dinna, they maun gang throu the same classes ower again, and stan' the examination at the end�-that is, gin they want a degree; and that's a terrible loss o' time for the start. Noo, gin Alec'll set to wark like a man, I'll help him a' that I can; and by the gatherin' again, he'll be up wi' the lave o' the fleet. Faith! I'll sit like Deith i' the spectre-bark, and blaw intil his sails a' that I can blaw. Maybe ye dinna ken that verse i' The Rhyme o' the Ancient Mariner? It was left oot o' the later editions:
'A gust of wind sterte up behind,
And whistled through his bones;
Through the holes of his eyes and the hole of his mouth,
Half-whistles and half-groans.'
There! that's spicy�-for them 'at likes ghaistry."