'And what d'ye mean,' cried the handsome widow gaily, when he made his appearance, 'by coming at this hour? Did not I tell ye we would expect ye to supper?'
'Would ye have me eat you out o' house and home, woman?' he said. 'Besides, I had some work to get through.'
'Well, sit down and make yerself happy; better late than never; there's the cigars—
'I would as lief smoke a pipe, Katie, if ye don't object—only that I'm shamed to smoke in a fine place like this——'
'What is't for, man? Do ye think I got it up for an exhibition—to be put in a glass case! And what'll ye drink now, Ronald—some Moett and Shandon?'
'Indeed no,' said he. 'If I may light my pipe I want nothing else.'
'But I canna bear an empty table,' said she. 'Here, auntie, get your flounces and falderals out o' the road—bless us, woman, ye make the place look like a milliner's shop! And bring out the punch-bowl frae the chiffonnier—I want ye to see it, Ronald, for it was gien to my gudeman by an auld freend o' his in Ayr, that got it from the last of the lairds o' Garthlie. And if ane or twa o' them happen to come in to-night we'll try a brew—for there's naething so wholesome, after a', as the wine o' the country, and I can gie ye some o' the real stuff. Will ye no try a drop the noo?'
'No thank ye, no thank ye,' said he, for he had lit his pipe, and was well content.
'Well, well, we'll have one o' the lasses in to set the tumblers and the glasses, for I canna thole to see a bare table; and in the meantime, Ronald, you and me can hae a crack be oursels, and ye can tell me what ye mean to do when ye get your certificate——'
'If I get it, ye mean, lass.'