"Ou ay; I'll gie them to Meg Davidson, wha's to be here the night. But whaurfor no Geordie?"
"Never ye mind that, I ken the difference; and if Meg doesna give you the five shillings, I will."
"Well, buy them yoursel'," said the woman.
"Done," said he; "there's five guineas for them, and you can gie them to Meg as a present. Now, are ye firm?"
"Firm!" she cried, as she clutched the money, and gave a shrill laugh, from a nerve that was never softened by pity or penitence. "I think nae mair on't, man—sir, I mean, for ye proved yoursel' a gentleman to me afore—than I do now in spaeing twins to your wife at her next doun-lying."
A rap on the table, from the bottom of the pewter measure, brought in the landlord.
"Fill that again," said the writer.
And the man having re-entered with the pewter measure——
"You're to give this woman board and lodging for a day or two, and I will pay you before I start."
"That will be oot o' the five hundred frae her uncle," said the man, laughing. "She's my lady noo; but what will become o' the mice?"