"
"Na," answered Donal, "I'm no that. Whatever my burden, yon's no
hit. The loss o' what I hae wad hardly mak me lichter for my race."
"Ye're a queer customer!" said the man.
"I'm no sae queer but I hae a kist comin' by the carrier," rejoined
Donal, "direckit to the Morven Airms. It'll be here in time
doobtless."
"We'll see whan it comes," remarked the landlord, implying the chest
was easier invented than believed in.
"The warst o' 't is," continued Donal, "I canna weel shaw mysel'
wantin' shune. I hae a pair i' my kist, an' anither upo' my
back,--but nane for my feet."
"There's sutors enew," said the innkeeper.
"Weel we'll see as we gang. I want a word wi' the minister. Wad ye
direc' me to the manse?"
"He's frae hame. But it's o' sma' consequence; he disna care aboot
tramps, honest man! He winna waur muckle upo' the likes o' you."
The landlord was recovering himself--therefore his insolence.
Donal gave a laugh. Those who are content with what they are, have
the less concern about what they seem. The ambitious like to be
taken for more than they are, and may well be annoyed when they are
taken for less.
"I'm thinkin' ye wadna waur muckle on a tramp aither!" he said.
"I wad not," answered Glumm. "It's the pairt o' the honest to
discoontenance lawlessness."
"Ye wadna hang the puir craturs, wad ye?" asked Donal.
Pages:
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49