"Faith, and I say so too with all my heart, sir," said the stranger, laughing loudly, and ruffing applause of the good curate's humorous song on the table. "I'm sure I've known many a one planted in a comfortable living, who, I would take it upon me to say, were less deserving of it than you are."
"That may be, honest man," replied the curate; "but, as I said to my freend here a little ago, when he made the same remark, I hae nae interest; and withoot that, ye ken, it's as impossible to get on, as for a milestane to row its lane up a hill."
"Indeed, sir, that is but too true, I fear," said the stranger; "yet the king, they say, is very well disposed to reward merit when he finds it, and has often done so with out the interference of influence."
"Ou, I daur say," replied the curate; "he's gude aneugh that way—na, very guid, I believe; but I hae nae access to the king, and it'll be lang aneugh before my merits, if I hae ony—which I mysel very much doot—'ll find their way to him. He has owre mony greedy gleds to feed, for the like o' me to hae ony chance o' promotion. No, no, freend—
"Curate o' Govan I was born to be,
An' curate o' Govan I'm destined to dee."
"Ha, ha!" exclaimed the stranger, laughing; "a bit of a poet, curate."
"In an unco sma' way, freend," replied the worthy churchman.
"Excuse my freedom, sir," rejoined the stranger; "but pray how long have you been curate of this parish?'
"Nine years, come Martinmas next."
"And no prospect of advancement yet?"