'

I promised to be civil and cautious; and, to smooth the good woman, I
slipped the promised piece into her hand. The acute organs of the blind
man detected this little manoeuvre.

'Are ye at it again wi' the siller, ye jaud? I'll be sworn ye wad rather
hear ae twalpenny clink against another, than have a spring from Rory
Dall, [Blind Rorie, a famous musician according to tradition.] if
he was-coming alive again anes errand. Gang doun the gate to Lucky
Gregson's and get the things ye want, and bide there till ele'en hours
in the morn; and if you see Robin, send him on to me.'

'Am I no gaun to the ploy, then?' said Maggie, in a disappointed tone.

'And what for should ye?' said her lord and master; 'to dance a' night,
I'se warrant, and no to be fit to walk your tae's-length the morn, and
we have ten Scots miles afore us? Na, na. Stable the steed, and pit your
wife to bed, when there's night wark to do.'

'Aweel, aweel, Willie hinnie, ye ken best; but oh, take an unco care o'
yoursell, and mind ye haena the blessing o' sight.'

'Your tongue gars me whiles tire of the blessing of hearing, woman,'
replied 'Willie, in answer to this tender exhortation.

But I now put in for my interest. 'Hollo, good folks, remember that I am
to send the boy to Mount Sharon, and if you go to the Shepherd's Bush,
honest woman, how the deuce am I to guide the blind man where he is
going? I know little or nothing of the country.'

'And ye ken mickle less of my hinnie, sir,' replied Maggie, 'that
think he needs ony guiding; he's the best guide himsell that ye'll find
between Criffell and Carlisle. Horse-road and foot-path, parish-road
and kirk-road, high-road and cross-road, he kens ilka foot of ground in
Nithsdale.'

'Aye, ye might have said in braid Scotland, gudewife,' added the
fiddler. 'But gang your ways, Maggie, that's the first wise word ye hae
spoke the day. I wish it was dark night, and rain, and wind, for the
gentleman's sake, that I might show him there is whiles when ane had
better want een than have them; for I am as true a guide by darkness as
by daylight.'

Internally as well pleased that my companion was not put to give me this
last proof of his skill, I wrote a note with a pencil, desiring Samuel
to bring my horses at midnight, when I thought my frolic would be
wellnigh over, to the place to which the bearer should direct him, and I
sent little Benjie with an apology to the worthy Quakers.

As we parted in differe