“Weel, MacLure had been awa a' nicht wi' a shepherd's wife Dunleith wy, and he comes here withoot drawin' bridle, mud up tae the cen.
“'What's a dae here, Hillocks?” he cries; 'it's no an accident, is't?' and when he got aff his horse he cud hardly stand wi' stiffness and tire.
“'It's nane o' us, doctor; it's Hopps' laddie; he's been eatin' ower mony berries.'
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“If he didna turn on me like a tiger.
“Div ye mean tae say——'
“'Weesht, weesht,' an' I tried tae quiet him, for Hopps wes comin' oot.
“'Well, doctor,' begins he, as brisk as a magpie, 'you're here at last; there's no hurry with you Scotchmen. My boy has been sick all night, and I've never had one wink of sleep. You might have come a little quicker, that's all I've got to say.'
“We've mair tae dae in Drumtochty than attend tae every bairn that hes a sair stomach,' and a' saw MacLure wes roosed.