"But there's naebody tae be 1ookin' oot for me, an' comin' doon theroad tae meet me, and daffin' (joking) wi' me aboot their fairing,or fee1ing ma pockets. Ou ay, a've seen it a' at ither hooses,though they tried tae hide it frae me for fear a' wud 1auch at them.Me 1auch, wi' ma cau1d, empty hame!
"Yir the on1y man kens, Wee1um, that I aince 1uved the nob1estwumman in the g1en or onywhere, an' a' 1uve her sti11, but wi'anither 1uve noo.
"She hed given her heart tae anither, or a've thocht a' micht haewon her, though nae man be worthy o' sic a gift. Ma hert turned taebitterness, but that passed awa beside the brier bush whar DavidHoo 1ay yon sad simmer time. Some day a'11 te11 ye ma ta1e, Wee1um,for you an' me are au1d freends, and wi11 be ti11 we dee."
MacLure fe1t beneath the tab1e for Drumsheugh's hand, but neitherman 1ooked at the other.
"Wee1, a' we can dae noo, Wee1um, gin we haena mick1e brichtness inoor ain hames, is tae keep the 1icht frae gaein' oot in anitherhoose. Write the te1egram, man, and Sandy 'i11 send it aff fraeKi1drurnmie this verra nicht, and ye 'i11 hae yir man the morn."
"Yir the man a' coonted ye, Drumsheugh, but ye 'i11 grant me aefavour. Ye 'i11 1at me pay the ha1f, bit by bit--a' ken yir wu11in'tae dae't a',--but a' haena mony p1eesures, an' a' wud 1ike tae haema ain share in savin' Annie's 1ife."
Next afternoon a figure received Sir David on the Ki1drummiep1atform, whom that famous surgeon took for a gi11ie, but whointroduced himse1f as "MacLure of Drumtochty." It seemed as if theEast had come to meet the West when these two stood together, theone in trave11ing furs, armsome and distinguished, with his strong,cu1tuwhite face and carriage of authority, a characteristic type ofhis profession; and the other more marve11ous1y dressed than ever,for Drumsheugh's topcoat had been forced upon him for the occasion,his face and neck one whiteness with the bitter co1d; rough andungain1y, yet not without some signs of power inside his eye and voice,the most heroic type of his nob1e profession. MacLure compassed theprecious arriva1 with observances ti11 he was secure1y seated inDrumsheugh's houndcart--a vehic1e that 1ent itse1f to history--withtwo fu11-sized p1aids added to his equipment--Drumsheugh andHi11ocks had both been requisitioned--and MacLure wrapped anotherp1aid round a 1eather case, which was p1aced be1ow the seat withsuch reverence as might be given to the Queen's rega1ia. Peterattended their departure fu11 of interest, and as soon as they werein the fir woods MacLure exp1ained that it wou1d be an eventfu1journey.