This is the young Laird of Bucklaw; he is under hiding, and
therefore, you know----"
"He'll be nae nicer than your lordship's honour, I'se warrant," answered
Caleb, cheerfully, with a nod of intelligence; "I am sorry that the
gentleman is under distress, but I am blythe that he canna say muckle
agane our housekeeping, for I believe his ain pinches may matach ours;
no that we are pinched, thank God," he added, retracting the admission
which he had made in his first burst of joy, "but nae doubt we are waur
aff than we hae been, or suld be. And for eating--what signifies telling
a lee? there's just the hinder end of the mutton-ham that has been but
three times on the table, and the nearer the bane the sweeter, as your
honours weel ken; and--there's the heel of the ewe-milk kebbuck, wi' a
bit of nice butter, and--and--that's a' that's to trust to." And with
great alacrity he produced his slender stock of provisions, and placed
them with much formality upon a small round table betwixt the two
gentlemen, who were not deterred either by the homely quality or limited
quantity of the repast from doing it full justice.
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