he house, and straightway brought Benjie, who was playing
at the bools, ben by the lug and horn. I had got a glass, so my spirit
was up. "Stand there," I said; "Benjie, look me in the face, and tell me
what trade ye would like to be."

"Trade?" answered Benjie; "I would like to be a gentleman."

Dog on it, it was more than I could thole, and I saw that his mother had
spoiled him; so, though I aye liked to give him wholesome reproof rather
than lift my fist, I broke through this rule in a couple of hurries, and
gave him such a yerk in the cheek with the loof of my hand, as made, I am
sure, his lugs ring, and sent him dozing to the door like a peerie.

"Ye see that," said I, as the laddie went ben the house whingeing; "ye
see what a kettle of fish ye have made o't?"

"Weel, weel," answered Nanse, a wee startled by my strong, decisive way
of managing, "ye ken best, and, I fancy, maun tak' the matter your ain
way. But ye can have no earthly objection to making him a lawer's
advocatt?"

"I wad see him hanged first," answered I. "What! do you imagine I would
set a son of mine to be a sherry-offisher, ganging about rampauging
through the country, taking up fiefs and robbers, and suspicious
characters with wauf looks and waur claes; exposed to all manner of evil
communication from bad company, in the way of business; and rouping out
puir creatures that cannot find wherewithal to pay their lawful debts, at
the Cross, by warrant of the Sherry, with an auld chair in ae hand and an
eevery hammer in the ither? Siccan a sight wad be the death o' me."

"What think ye then of the preaching line?" asked Nanse.

"The preaching line!" quo' I--"No, no, that'll never do. Not that I want
respect for ministers, who are the servants of the Most High; but the
truth is, that unless ye have great friends and patronage of the like of
the Duke down by, or the Marquis of Lothian up by, or suchlike, ye may
preach yoursell as hoarse as a corbie, from June to January, before ony
body will say, 'Hae, puir man, there's a kirk.' And if no kirk casts
up--which is more nor likely--what can a young probationer turn his hand
to? He has learned no trade, so he can neither work nor want. He daurna
dig nor delve, even though he were able, or he would be hauled by the
cuff of the neck before his betters in the General Assembly, for having
the impudence to go for to be so bold as dishonour the cloth; and though
he may get his bit orra half-a-guinea