“You misunderstand the thing, Magnus; the king’s ministers are not those of the Church, but of the State.”
Mag. “Oh—is that it? Weel, I never kent that before. But can ye tell me, sir, wha that gentleman is upon your ither side?”
“He is a young Englishman, who has come north to see this country.”
Mag. “Is he indeed, sir? And, by your leave, what ack o’ parliament does he drive?”
“He is, I believe, a doctor of medicine.”
Mag. “Just so, sir; I wonder if he could tell what would be good for me?”
“I thought you told me you were in good health?”
Mag. “Weel, as I said before, I’m brave and easy that way, indeed; but yet I’m whiles fashed wi’ the rheumaticisms, and sometimes I’m very domalis.”
“Domalis!—what’s that, Magnus?”
Mag. “Weel, never might there be the waur o’ that; I thought you, that’s been at college, wad hae kent that;—domalis is just ‘flamp’ (listless).”