"A bargain be't," quoth Willie; "will the morn do?"
"Perfectly," said the stranger; "the sooner the better."
This settled, Willie proceeded to a subject which had been for some time near his heart, but which he felt some delicacy in broaching. This feeling, however, having gradually given way before the influence of the toddy, and of his friend's frank and jovial manner, he at length ventured, though cautiously, to step on the ice.
"That's an uncommon guid instrument o' yours, frien," he said.
"Very good," replied his companion, briefly.
"But ye'll hae mair than that ane, nae doot?" rejoined the other.
"I hae ither twa."
"In that case," said Willie, "maybe ye wad hae nae objection to pairt wi' that ane, an the price offered ye wur a' the mair temptin. I'll gie ye the saxteen shillins I hae won the nicht, an' my fiddle, for't."
"Thank ye, frien, thank ye for your offer," replied the stranger; "but I daurna accept o't, though I war willin. The fiddle was gien to me by Leddy Gowan, and I daurna pairt wi't. She wad miss't, and then there wad be the deevil to pay."
"Oh, an that's the case," said Willie, "I'll say nae mair aboot it; but it's a first-rate fiddle—sae guid a ane, that it micht amaist play the lane o't."