n the supposed
culprit entered the apartment. His arrival, as usually happens in
such a case, put an instant stop to the discussion of which he had
furnished the subject, and he was received by the company assembled
with that chilling silence, which more than a thousand exclamations
tells an intruder that he is unwelcome. Surprised and offended, but
not appalled by the reception which he experienced, Robin entered with
an undaunted, and even a haughty air, attempted no greeting as he saw
he was received with none, and placed himself by the side of the fire,
a little apart from a table, at which Harry Wakefield, the bailiff,
and two or three other persons, were seated. The ample Cumbrian
kitchen would have afforded plenty of room even for a larger
separation.

Robin, thus seated, proceeded to light his pipe, and call for a pint
of twopenny.

"We have no twopenny ale," answered Ralph Heskett, the landlord; but
as thou find'st thy own tobacco, its like thou may'st find thine own
liquor too--it's the wont of thy country, I wot."

"Shame, goodman," said the landlady, a blithe, bustling housewife,
hastening herself to suply the guest with liquor--"Thou knowest well
enow what the strange man wants, and it's thy trade to be a civil man.
Thou shouldest know, that if the Scot likes a small pot, he pays a
sure penny."

Without taking any notice of this nuptial dialogue, the Highlander
took the flagon in his hand, and, addressing the company generally,
drank the interesting toast of "Good markets," to the party assembled.

"The better that the wind blew fewer dealers from the north," said one
of the farmers, and fewer Highland runts to eat up the English
meadows."

"Soul of my pody, put you are wrang there, my friend," answered Robin,
with composure, "it is your fat Englishmen that eat up our Scots
cattle, puir things."

"I wish there was a summat to eat up their drovers," said another;
"a plain Englishman canna make bread within a kenning of them."

"Or an honest servant keep his master's favour, but they will come
sliding in between him and the sunshine," said the bailiff.

"If these pe jokes," said Robin Oig, with the same composure, "there
is ower mony jokes upon one man."

"It is no joke, but downright earnest," said the bailiff. "Harkye,
Mr. Robin Ogg, or whatever is your name, it's right we should tell you
that we are all of one opinion, and that is, that you, Mr. Robin Ogg,
have behaved to our friend, Mr. Harr