第176章

said the beggar, ``he doubts he's in disgrace wi' my leddy and Sir Arthur.''

Robert's repentant and bashful face was seen over the mendicant's shoulder.

``In disgrace with me?'' said Sir Arthur--``how so?''--for the irritation into which he had worked himself on occasion of the toast had been long forgotten.``O, I recollect--Robert, Iwas angry, and you were wrong;--go about your work, and never answer a master that speaks to you in a passion.''

``Nor any one else,'' said the Antiquary; ``for a soft answer turneth away wrath.''

``And tell your mother, who is so ill with the rheumatism, to come down to the housekeeper to-morrow,'' said Miss Wardour, ``and we will see what can be of service to her.''

``God bless your leddyship,'' said poor Robert, ``and his honour Sir Arthur, and the young laird, and the house of Knockwinnock in a' its branches, far and near!--it's been a kind and gude house to the puir this mony hundred years.''

``There''--said the Antiquary to Sir Arthur--``we won't dispute--but there you see the gratitude of the poor people naturally turns to the civil virtues of your family.You don't hear them talk of Redhand, or Hell-in-Harness.For me, Imust say, _Odi accipitrem qui semper vivit in armis_--so let us eat and drink in peace, and be joyful, Sir Knight.''

A table was quickly covered in the parlour, where the party sat joyously down to some refreshment.At the request of Oldbuck, Edie Ochiltree was permitted to sit by the sideboard in a great leathern chair, which was placed in some measure behind a screen.

``I accede to this the more readily,'' said Sir Arthur, ``because I remember in my fathers days that chair was occupied by Ailshie Gourlay, who, for aught I know, was the last privileged fool, or jester, maintained by any family of distinction in Scotland.''

``Aweel, Sir Arthur,'' replied the beggar, who never hesitated an instant between his friend and his jest, ``mony a wise man sits in a fule's seat, and mony a fule in a wise man's, especially in families o' distinction.''

Miss Wardour, fearing the effect of this speech (however worthy of Ailsbie Gourlay, or any other privileged jester) upon the nerves of her father, hastened to inquire whether ale and beef should not be distributed to the servants and people whom the news had assembled round the Castle.

``Surely, my love,'' said her father; ``when was it ever otherwise in our families when a siege had been raised?''

``Ay, a siege laid by Saunders Sweepclean the bailiff, and raised by Edie Ochiltree the gaberlunzie, _par nobile fratrum,_''

said Oldbuck, ``and well pitted against each other in respectability.

But never mind, Sir Arthur--these are such sieges and such reliefs as our time of day admits of--and our escape is not less worth commemorating in a glass of this excellent wine--Upon my credit, it is Burgundy, I think.''

``Were there anything better in the cellar,'' said Miss Wardour, ``it would be all too little to regale you after your friendly exertions.''

``Say you so?'' said the Antiquary: ``why, then, a cup of thanks to you, my fair enemy, and soon may you be besieged as ladies love best to be, and sign terms of capitulation in the chapel of Saint Winnox!''

Miss Wardour blushed--Hector coloured, and then grew pale.

Sir Arthur answered, ``My daughter is much obliged to you, Monkbarns; but unless you'll accept of her yourself, I really do not know where a poor knight's daughter is to seek for an alliance in these mercenary times.''