Eh, the fowth o' fushionless beggars I hae seen come to
me like yersel'!--Ow ay! it was aye wark they wad hae!--an' cudna
du mair nor a flee amo' triacle!--What coonty are ye frae, wi' the
lang legs an' the lang back-bane o' ye?"
Cosmo told him. The hands of the old man rose from his sides, and
made right angles of his elbows.
"Weel," he said slowly, "that's no an ill coonty to come frae. I
may say THAT, for I belang til't my--sel'. But what pairt o' 't ran
ye frae whan ye cam awa'?"
"I ran frae nae pairt, but I cam frae hame i' the north pairt o'
that same," answered Cosmo, and bent again to his work.
The man came a step nearer, and Cosmo, without looking up, was
aware he was regarding him intently.
"Ay! ay!" he said at last, in a tone of reflection mingled with
dawning interest, "I ance kent a terrible rascal cam frae owerby
that gait: what ca' they the perris ye're frae?"
Cosmo told him.
"Lord bless me!" cried the old man, and came close up to him.--"But
na!" he resumed, and stepped a pace back, "somebody's been tellin
ye!"
Cosmo gave him no answer. He stood a moment expecting one, then
broke out in a rage.
"What for mak ye nae answer whan a body speirs ye a queston? That
wasna mainners whan I was a bairn. Lord! ye micht as weel be
ceevil! Isna it easy eneuch to lee?"
"I would answer no man who was not prepared to believe me," said
Cosmo quietly.
The dignity of his English had far more effect on the man than the
friendliness of their mother-tongue.
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