"H'm, h'm, h'm," neighed Dickie, laughing with his lips shut; "My lady's so pleasant, and so kind, but—Oh—no, no—you wrong her, knight; h'm, h'm, h'm! But, all joking and gibing aside—my lady's very pleasant. I came express to inform you, Sir Ringan, that the Douglasses are up."
"I knew it."
"And the Maxwells—and the Gordons—and the hurkle-backed Hendersons."
"Well."
"And Sir Christopher Seton is up—and the Elliots and the Laird of Tibbers is up."
"Well, well."
"I came expressly to inform you—"
"Came with piper's news," said the lady, "which the fiddler has told before you."
"That is very good," said Dickie; "My lady is so delightfully pleasant—I thought Sir Ringan would be going to rise with the rest, and came for directions as to raising my men."