15. See Allan Ramsay’s works.
15, 16. Ay, and that is one of the pigments with which I am trying to draw the character of Prestongrange. ’Tis a most curious thing to render that kind, insignificant mask. To make anything precise is to risk my effect. And till the day he died, Davie was never sure of what P. was after. Not only so; very often P. didn’t know himself. There was an element of mere liking for Davie; there was an element of being determined, in case of accidents, to keep well with him. He hoped his Barbara would bring him to her feet, besides, and make him manageable. That was why he sent him to Hope Park with them. But Davie cannot know; I give you the inside of Davie, and my method condemns me to give only the outside both of Prestongrange and his policy.
- -I’ll give my mind to the technicalities. Yet to me they seem a part of the story, which is historical, after all.
- -I think they wanted Alan to escape. But when or where to say so? I will try.
- -20, Dean. I’ll try and make that plainer.
Chap. XIII., I fear it has to go without blows. If I could get the pair—No, can’t be.
- -XIV. All right, will abridge.
- -XV. I’d have to put a note to every word; and he who can’t read Scots can never enjoy Tod Lapraik.
- -XVII. Quite right. I can make this plainer, and will.