hold of my own door.

From this folk should condescend to take a lesson, seeing that, though
the world is a bitter bad world, yet that good deeds are not only a
reward to themselves, but call forth the applause of Jew and Gentile: for
the sweet savour of my conduct on this memorable night remained in my
nostrils for goodness knows the length of time, many praising my brave
humanity in public companies and assemblies of the people, such as
strawberry ploys, council meetings, dinner parties, and so forth; and
many in private conversation at their own ingle-cheek, by way of
two-handed crack; in stage-coach confab, and in causey talk in the
forenoon, before going in to take their meridians. Indeed, between
friends, the business proved in the upshot of no small advantage to me,
bringing to me a sowd of strange faces, by way of customers, both gentle
and semple, that I verily believe had not so muckle as ever heard of my
name before, and giving me many a coat to cut, and cloth to shape, that,
but for my gallant behaviour on the fearsome night aforesaid, would
doubtless have been cut, sewed, and shaped by other hands. Indeed,
considering the great noise the thing made in the world, it is no wonder
that every one was anxious to have a garment of wearing apparel made by
the individual same hands that had succeeded, under Providence, in saving
the precious life of an old woman of eighty, that had been bedridden,
some say, four years come Yule, and others, come Martinmas.

When we got to the ingle-side, and, barring the door, saw that all was
safe, it was now three in the morning; so we thought it by much the best
way of managing, not to think of sleeping any more, but to be on the
look-out--as we aye used to be when walking sentry in the volunteers--in
case the flames should, by ony mischancy accident or other, happen to
break out again. My wife blamed my hardihood muckle, and the rashness
with which I had ventured at once to places where even masons and
sclaters were afraid to put foot on; yet I saw, in the interim, that she
looked on me with a prouder eye--knowing herself the helpmate of one that
had courageously risked his neck, and every bone in his skin, in the
cause of humanity. I saw this as plain as a pikestaff, as, with one of
her kindest looks, she insisted on my putting on a better happing to
screen me from the cold, and on my taking something comfortable inwardly
towards the dispelling of bad consequences. So, af