“I’ll sweir ony lawfu’ aith ’at ye like to lay upo’ me,” protested Angus, “’at I’ll dee whatever ye please to require o’ me.”
“I dinna doobt ye wad sweir; but what neist?” said Janet.
“What neist but ye’ll lowse my han’s?” rejoined Angus.
“It’s no mainner o’ use mentionin’ ’t,” replied Janet; “for, as ye ken, I’m un’er authority, an’ yersel’ h’ard my man tell me to tak unco percaution no to lat ye gang; for verily, Angus, ye hae conduckit yersel’ this day more like ane possessed wi’ a legion, than the douce faimily man ’at ye’re supposit by the laird, yer maister, to be.”
“Was ever man,” protested Angus “made sic a fule o’, an’ sae misguidit, by a pair o’ auld cottars like you an’ Robert Grant!”
“Wi’ the help o’ the Lord, by means o’ the dog,” supplemented Janet. “I wuss frae my hert I hed the great reid draigon i’ yer place, an’ I wad watch him bonnie, I can tell ye, Angus MacPholp. I wadna be clear aboot giein’ him his denner, Angus.”
“Lat me gang, wuman, wi’ yer reid draigons! I’ll hairm naebody. The puir idiot’s no muckle the waur, an’ I’ll tak mair tent whan I fire anither time.”
“Wiser fowk nor me maun see to that,” answered Janet.
“Hoots, wuman! it was naething but an accident.”
“I kenna; but it’ll be seen what Gibbie says.”