The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Volume 2. Вальтер Скотт

the rich, whether spiritual or temporal, usually esteem it part of their privilege to bestow upon the poor, and then desired Mr. Stubbs and his charge to step in till he informed his master of their presence.

      The room into which he showed them was a sort of steward's parlour, hung with a county map or two, and three or four prints of eminent persons connected with the county, as Sir William Monson, James York the blacksmith of Lincoln,14 and the famous Peregrine, Lord Willoughby, in complete armour, looking as when he said in the words of the legend below the engraving, —

      When they had entered this apartment, Tummas as a matter of course offered, and as a matter of course Mr. Stubbs accepted, a "summat" to eat and drink, being the respectable relies of a gammon of bacon, and a whole whiskin, or black pot of sufficient double ale. To these eatables Mr. Beadle seriously inclined himself, and (for we must do him justice) not without an invitation to Jeanie, in which Tummas joined, that his prisoner or charge would follow his good example. But although she might have stood in need of refreshment, considering she had tasted no food that day, the anxiety of the moment, her own sparing and abstemious habits, and a bashful aversion to eat in company of the two strangers, induced her to decline their courtesy. So she sate in a chair apart, while Mr. Stubbs and Mr. Tummas, who had chosen to join his friend in consideration that dinner was to be put back till after the afternoon service, made a hearty luncheon, which lasted for half-an-hour, and might not then have concluded, had not his Reverence rung his bell, so that Tummas was obliged to attend his master. Then, and no sooner, to save himself the labour of a second journey to the other end of the house, he announced to his master the arrival of Mr. Stubbs, with the other madwoman, as he chose to designate Jeanie, as an event which had just taken place. He returned with an order that Mr. Stubbs and the young woman should be instantly ushered up to the library. The beadle bolted in haste his last mouthful of fat bacon, washed down the greasy morsel with the last rinsings of the pot of ale, and immediately marshalled Jeanie through one or two intricate passages which led from the ancient to the more modern buildings, into a handsome little hall, or anteroom, adjoining to the library, and out of which a glass door opened to the lawn.

      1

      [In 1828, the Author presented to the Roxburgh Club a curious volume containing the "Proceedings in the Court-Martial held upon John, Master of Sinclair, for the murder of Ensign Schaw, and Captain Schaw, 17th October 1708."]

      2

      Pass.

      3

      Seal.

      4

      Justice of Peace.

      5

      The executioner, in livery of black or dark grey and silver, likened by low wit to a magpie.

      6

      He meant, probably, stillicidium.

      7

      By dint of assiduous research I am enabled to certiorate the reader, that the name of this person was Saunders Broadfoot, and that he dealt in the wholesome commodity called kirn-milk (Anglice', butter-milk). – J. C.

      8

      The fact is certain. The single epistle was addressed to the principal director of the British Linen Company.

      9

      The last three days of March, old style, are called the Borrowing Days; for, as they are remarked t

1

[In 1828, the Author presented to the Roxburgh Club a curious volume containing the "Proceedings in the Court-Martial held upon John, Master of Sinclair, for the murder of Ensign Schaw, and Captain Schaw, 17th October 1708."]

2

Pass.

3

Seal.

4

Justice of Peace.

5

The executioner, in livery of black or dark grey and silver, likened by low wit to a magpie.

6

He meant, probably, stillicidium.

7

By dint of assiduous research I am enabled to certiorate the reader, that the name of this person was Saunders Broadfoot, and that he dealt in the wholesome commodity called kirn-milk (Anglice', butter-milk). – J. C.

8

The fact is certain. The single epistle was addressed to the principal director of the British Linen Company.

9

The last three days of March, old style, are called the Borrowing Days; for, as they are remarked to be unusually stormy, it is feigned that March had borrowed them from April, to extend the sphere of his rougher sway. The rhyme on the subject is quoted in the glossary to Leyden's edition of the "Complaynt of Scotland" —

[March said to Aperill,I see three hogs upon a hill,A young sheep before it has lost its first fleece.But when the borrowed days were ganeThe three silly hogs came hirplin hame.]

10

[John Emery, an eminent comedian, played successfully at Covent Garden Theatre between 1798 and 1820. Among his characters, were those of Dandie Dinmont in Guy Mannering, Dougal in Rob Roy, and Ratcliffe in the Heart of Mid-Lothian.]

11

Concealed a knife.

12

Lay ourselves down to sleep.

13

A homely proverb, signifying better wed a neighbour than one fetched from a distance. – Mixen signifies dunghill.

14

[Author of the Union of Honour, a treatise on English Heraldry. London, 1641.]

"Stand to it, noble pikemen,And face ye well about;And shoot ye sharp, bold bowmen,And we will keep them out."Ye musquet and calliver-men,Do you prove true to me,I'll be the foremost man in fight,Said brave Lord Willoughbee."

14

[Author of the Union of Honour, a treatise on English Heraldry. London, 1641.]

"Stand to it, noble pikemen,And face ye well about;And shoot ye sharp, bold bowmen,And we will keep them out."Ye musquet and calliver-men,Do you prove true to me,I'll be the foremost man in fight,Said brave Lord Willoughbee."