. Lesley coming up, and I guess that
Monkbarns's purpose was very kind, and that yours is muckle waur than it
should be."

The antagonist now approached, and saluted with the stern civility
which befitted the occasion. "What has this old fellow to do here?" said
M'Intyre.

"I am an auld fallow," said Edie, "but I am also an auld soldier o' your
father's, for I served wi' him in the 42d."

"Serve where you please, you have no title to intrude on us," said
M'Intyre, "or"--and he lifted his cane in terrorem, though without the
idea of touching the old man.

But Ochiltree's courage was roused by the insult. "Haud down your
switch, Captain M'Intyre! I am an auld soldier, as I said before, and
I'll take muckle frae your father's son; but no a touch o' the wand
while my pike-staff will haud thegither."

"Well, well, I was wrong--I was wrong," said M'Intyre; "here's a crown
for you--go your ways--what's the matter now?"

The old man drew himself up to the full advantage of his uncommon
height, and in despite of his dress, which indeed had more of the
pilgrim than the ordinary beggar, looked from height, manner, and
emphasis of voice and gesture, rather like a grey palmer or eremite
preacher, the ghostly counsellor of the young men who were around him,
than the object of their charity. His speech, indeed, was as homely
as his habit, but as bold and unceremonious as his erect and dignified
demeanour. "What are ye come here for, young men?" he said, addressing
himself to the surprised audience; "are ye come amongst the most lovely
works of God to break his laws? Have ye left the works of man, the
houses and the cities that are but clay and dust, like those that built
them--and are ye come here among the peaceful hills, and by the quiet
waters, that will last whiles aught earthly shall endure, to destroy
each other's lives, that will have but an unco short time, by the course
of nature, to make up a lang account at the close o't? O sirs! hae ye
brothers, sisters, fathers, that hae tended ye, and mothers that hae
travailed for ye, friends that hae ca'd ye like a piece o' their ain
heart? and is this the way ye tak to make them childless and brotherless
and friendless? Ohon! it's an ill feight whar he that wins has the warst
o't. Think on't, bairns. I'm a puir man--but I'm an auld man too--and what
my poverty takes awa frae the weight o' my counsel, grey hairs and a
truthfu' heart should add it twenty times. Gang hame, gang ha