"That man and all his raggabrash are raking about this morning. It caps all, it does, for sure."
The old charcoal-burner did not answer. He paused with the spoon half raised, glanced at Mercy, and then went on with his broth.
"Hasta heard of the lang yammer in the papers about yon matter?" said Gubblum.
"Nay," said Matthew, "I hears nowt of the papers."
"He's like to hang a lang crag when he hears about it."
"I mak' na doubt," said Matthew, showing no curiosity.
"It's my belief 'at the auld woman at Hendon is turning tail. You mind she was down last back end, and he wadn't have nowt to say to her."
"Ey, I mind her," said Matthew.
"Every dog has his day, and I reckon yon dog's day is nigh amaist done. And it wad have been a vast shorter on'y Mercy hadn't her eyes."
"Ey, ey," said Matthew, quietly.