“Such being the case, Mr Barlas, there is no choice, and the matter is settled.”
“Just that—just that,” responded the worthy landlord, and then added, with an eye to business, “Ye can mak the Cross-Keys yer hame till ye get the cottage a’ painted an’ furnished to your mind.”
“So be it, Mr Barlas; and now that the house is settled, what about a housekeeper? Was Dr Sommerville married?”
“Married? of course, he was married, an’ had lots o’ weans to the bargain. But just try yer hand wi’ Miss Ramsay. I would like grand to see ye at that game, doctor.”
“Nonsense,” I rejoined. “I do not want to steal the Laird’s ewe-lamb, and break with him at the very commencement of my course. Is there no quiet, decent, honest body about St Dunstan who would make a good and active housekeeper?”
“They’re a’ honest an’ decent thegither, except it be twa or three o’ the canglin’ mugger folk wha mend auld pans and break ane anither’s heads. Let me see—stop a wee—ou, ay—I have ye noo, doctor; there’s Mrs Johnston—a clean, thrifty, tidy woman o’ forty or thereabouts; she’ll fit ye to a T, an’ keep yer hoose like a new leek. Her gudeman was an elder; but he took an inward trouble aboot a year syne, an’ a’ the skill o’ Doctor Sommerville couldna keep his life in when his time was come. I’ll speak to Mrs Johnston the morn, so ye can keep yer mind easy aboot a housekeeper.”
“We’re getting on famously, Mr Barlas. The house and housekeeper are both disposed of. What next?”
“What next, doctor? The next thing, I’m thinkin’, ’ill be a horse. Folk will be sendin’ for ye post-haste to gang sax or seven miles awa, an’ ye canna get on without a beast. Are ye onything skeely in horseflesh?”
“No,” I replied, “not particularly. I would require to purchase a horse by proxy.”
This reply appeared to give mine host considerable satisfaction. After a brief pause he said, “Weel, doctor, what think ye o’ the beastie that took ye to the Haugh the day? It’s fine an’ canny, an’ free frae a’ kind o’ pranks. It would never fling ye aff an’ break your banes when ye were gaun to mend ither folk’s bodies. It’ll no cost ye muckle siller, and ye’ll get a capital bargain wi’ the beast.”