eans. If I thought
it was fitting that Master Fairford should see him, why perhaps it is
a matter that could be managed. Do you know anything about the old
fellow?--you seemed to take some charge of him just now.'

'No more than I should have done by any one in distress,' said Geddes,
not sorry to be appealed to; 'but I will try what I can do to find out
who he is, and what he is about in this country. But are we not a little
too public in this open room?'

'It's well thought of,' said Nanty; and at his command the barmaid
ushered the party into a side-booth, Peter attending them in the
instinctive hope that there would be more liquor drunk among them before
parting. They had scarce sat down in their new apartment, when the sound
of a violin was heard in the room which they had just left.

'I'll awa back yonder,' said Peter, rising up again; 'yon's the sound of
a fiddle, and when there is music, there's ay something ganging to eat
or drink.'

'I am just going to order something here,' said the Quaker; 'but in the
meantime, have you any objection, my good friend, to tell us your name?'

'None in the world, if you are wanting to drink to me by name and
surname,' answered Peebles; 'but, otherwise, I would rather evite your
interrogatories.'

'Friend,' said the Quaker, 'it is not for thine own health, seeing thou
hast drunk enough already--however--here, handmaiden--bring me a gill of
sherry.'

'Sherry's but shilpit drink, and a gill's a sma' measure for twa
gentlemen to crack ower at their first acquaintance. But let us see your
sneaking gill of sherry,' said Poor Peter, thrusting forth his huge
hand to seize on the diminutive pewter measure, which, according to the
fashion of the time, contained the generous liquor freshly drawn from
the butt.

'Nay, hold, friend,' said Joshua, 'thou hast not yet told me what name
and surname I am to call thee by.'

'D--d sly in the Quaker,' said Nanty, apart, 'to make him pay for his
liquor before he gives it him. Now, I am such a fool, that I should have
let him get too drunk to open his mouth, before I thought of asking him
a question.'

'My name is Peter Peebles, then,' said the litigant, rather sulkily,
as one who thought his liquor too sparingly meted out to him; 'and what
have you to say to that?'

'Peter Peebles?' repeated Nanty Ewart and seemed to muse upon something
which the words brought to his remembrance, while the Quaker pursued his
examination.

'But I pri