caps, the
table being more than half furnished with great platters of porridge
each having a little piece of sodden meat. And when the table was
served, the servants did sit down with us; but the upper mess, instead
of porridge, had a pullet, with some prunes in the broth.'--TRAVELS, p.
155.

Till within this last century, the farmers, even of a respectable
condition, dined with their work-people. The difference betwixt those of
high degree was ascertained by the place of the party above or below
the salt, or, sometimes, by a line drawn with chalk on the dining-table.
Lord Lovat, who knew well how to feed the vanity and restrain the
appetites of his clansmen, allowed each sturdy Fraser, who had the
slightest pretension to be a Duinhe-wassel, the full honour of the
sitting, but, at the same time, took care that his young kinsmen did not
acquire at his table any taste for outlandish luxuries. His Lordship was
always ready with some honourable apology, why foreign wines and French
brandy--delicacies which he conceived might sap the hardy habits of his
cousins--should not circulate past an assigned point on the table.

NOTE 19.--CONAN THE JESTER

In the Irish ballads relating to Fion (the Fingal of Mac-Pherson), there
occurs, as in the primitive poetry of most nations, a cycle of heroes,
each of whom has some distinguishing attribute: upon these qualities,
and the adventures of those possessing them, many proverbs are formed
which are still current in the Highlands. Among other characters, Conan
is distinguished as in some respects a kind of Thersites, but brave and
daring even to rashness. He had made a vow that he would never take a
blow without returning it; and having, like other heroes of antiquity,
descended to the infernal regions, he received a cuff from the
Arch-fiend; who presided there, which he instantly returned, using the
expression in the text. Sometimes the proverb is worded thus:--'Claw
for claw, and the devil take the shortest nails, as Conan said to the
devil.'

NOTE 20.--WATERFALL

The description of the waterfall mentioned in this chapter is taken from
that of Ledeard, at the farm so called on the northern side of Lochard,
and near the head of the Lake, four or five miles from Aberfoyle. It is
upon a small scale, but otherwise one of the most exquisite cascades
it is possible to behold. The appearance of Flora with the harp, as
described, has been justly censured as too theatrical and affecte