"Where come ye frae?" he said to Cleg.
"I come from Edinburgh to see Vara Kavannah," said Cleg. "Is she biding wi' you?"
"She was, till yestreen," said Alick.
"And where is she noo?" said Cleg, buckling up his trousers.
"She is gane to serve at Loch Spellanderie by the Water o' Ae!" said Alick.
"And how far micht that be?" asked Cleg, finishing his preparations.
"Three mile and a bittock up that road!" said Muckle Alick, pointing with his finger to a well-made dusty road which went in the direction of the hills.
"Guidnicht!" cried Cleg, shortly. And was off at racing pace.
Muckle Alick watched him out of sight.
"That cowes a'!" he said, "to think that I could yince rin like that to see a lass. But the deil's in the loon. He's surely braw an early begun!"