f,
were it but for a quarter of an hour," said the glover.

"Hark thee, friend," replied his host, "I think thy business must be
either to gather money or to make traffic. Now, if the chief owe thee
anything for upbringing or otherwise, ask him not to pay it when all the
treasures of the tribe are called in for making gallant preparation of
arms and equipment for their combatants, that we may meet these proud
hill cats in a fashion to show ourselves their superiors. But if thou
comest to practise commerce with us, thy time is still worse chosen.
Thou knowest that thou art already envied of many of our tribe, for
having had the fosterage of the young chief, which is a thing usually
given to the best of the clan."'

"But, St. Mary, man!" exclaimed the glover, "men should remember the
office was not conferred on me as a favour which I courted, but that
it was accepted by me on importunity and entreaty, to my no small
prejudice. This Conachar, or Hector, of yours, or whatever you call him,
has destroyed me doe skins to the amount of many pounds Scots."

"There again, now," said the Booshalloch, "you have spoken word to cost
your life--any allusion to skins or hides, or especially to deer and
does--may incur no less a forfeit. The chief is young, and jealous of
his rank; none knows the reason better than thou, friend Glover. He
will naturally wish that everything concerning the opposition to
his succession, and having reference to his exile, should be totally
forgotten; and he will not hold him in affection who shall recall the
recollection of his people, or force back his own, upon what they must
both remember with pain. Think how, at such a moment, they will look
on the old glover of Perth, to whom the chief was so long apprentice!
Come--come, old friend, you have erred in this. You are in over great
haste to worship the rising sun, while his beams are yet level with the
horizon. Come thou when he has climbed higher in the heavens, and thou
shalt have thy share of the warmth of his noonday height."

"Niel Booshalloch," said the glover, "we have been old friends, as thou
say'st; and as I think thee a true one, I will speak to thee freely,
though what I say might be perilous if spoken to others of thy clan.
Thou think'st I come hither to make my own profit of thy young chief,
and it is natural thou shouldst think so. But I would not, at my years,
quit my own chimney corner in Curfew Street to bask me in the beams of
the