But I canna bide to tak for naething what I can pey for, an'
I dinna like to lay oot my siller upon a luxury I can weel eneuch du
wantin', for I haena muckle. I wadna be shabby nor yet greedy."
"Drink for the love o' God," said the woman.
Donal took the bowl from her hand, and drank till all was gone.
"Wull ye hae a drap mair?" she asked.
"Na, no a drap," answered Donal. "I'll gang i' the stren'th o' that
ye hae gi'en me--maybe no jist forty days, gudewife, but mair nor
forty minutes, an' that's a gude pairt o' a day. I thank ye
hertily. Yon was the milk o' human kin'ness, gien ever was ony."
As he spoke he rose, and stood up refreshed for his journey.
"I hae a sodger laddie awa' i' the het pairts ye spak o'," said the
woman: "gien ye hadna ta'en the milk, ye wad hae gi'en me a sair
hert."
"Eh, gudewife, it wad hae gi'en me ane to think I had!" returned
Donal. "The Lord gie ye back yer sodger laddie safe an' soon'!
Maybe I'll hae to gang efter 'im, sodger mysel'."
"Na, na, that wadna do. Ye're a scholar--that's easy to see, for a'
ye're sae plain spoken. It dis a body's hert guid to hear a man 'at
un'erstan's things say them plain oot i' the tongue his mither
taucht him. Sic a ane 'ill gang straucht till's makker, an' fin'
a'thing there hame-like. Lord, I wuss minnisters wad speyk like
ither fowk!"
"Ye wad sair please my mither sayin' that," remarked Donal.
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