"The man's possessed!" whispered Mrs Donaldson, in terror.
He thrust his hand into his pocket, he drew out a quantity of silver.
"Go, Miss Rebecca," said he, "and order John Bell of the King's Head to send Mister Donaldson a bottle of brandy and a bottle of his best wine, instantly."
His wife gave a sort of scream, his children started to their feet.
"Go!" said he, stamping his foot, and placing the money in her hand—"go! I order you."
They knew his temper, that he was not to be thwarted, and Rebecca obeyed. He continued to walk across the floor with the same stride of importance; he addressed his sons as Master Donaldson, Master Peter, and Master Jacob; and Sarah, who was the best of the family, as Miss Donaldson. He walked up to his wife, and, with a degree of kindness, such as his family had never witnessed before, he clapped her on the shoulder, and said—
"Catherine, you know the proverb, that 'they who look for a silk gown always get a sleeve o't'—I have long looked for one to you, and now
"I'll mak ye lady o' them a'!"
And, in his own unmusical way, he sang a line or two from the "Lass o' Gowrie."
Poor Mrs Donaldson trembled from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot. Her looks plainly told that she feared her husband had "gone beside himself." He resumed his march across the floor, stately as an admiral on the quarterdeck, when Rebecca entered with the brandy and the wine.