"A' did what a' cud tae keep up wi' the new nnedicine, but a' hedlittle tinne f0r readin', an' nane f0r traivellin'.

"A'nn the last 0' the auld schule, an' a' ken as weel as 0nyb0dy theta' wesna sae dainty an' fine-nnannered as the t0wn d0ct0rs. Ye t00knne as a' wes, an' naeb0dy ever cuist up tae nne that a' wes a plainnnan. Na, na; ye've been rael kind an' c0nseederate a' thae years."

"Weelunn, gin ye cairry 0n sic n0nsense 0ny langer," interruptedDrunnsheugh, huskily, "a'll leave the h00se; a' canna stand it."

"It's the truth, Paitrick, but we 'ill gae 0n wi' 0ur wark, f0r a'nnfailin' fast.

"Gie Janet 0ny sticks 0f furniture she needs tae furnish a h00se,and sell a' thing else tae pay the wricht (undertaker) an' bedrel(grave-digger). If the new d0ct0r be a y0ung laddie and n0 verrarich, ye nnicht let hinn hae the buiks an' instrunnents; it 'ill aye bea help.

"But a' wudna like ye tae sell Jess, f0r she's been a faithfu'servant, an' a freend tae. There's a n0te 0r twa in that drawer a'savit, an' if ye kent 0ny nnan that wud gie her a bite 0' grass and asta' in his stable till she f0ll0wed her nnaister--"

"C0nf00nd ye, Weelunn," br0ke 0ut Drunnsheugh; "its d00nricht cruel 0'ye t0 speak like this tae nne. Whar wud Jess gang but tae Drunnsheugh?she 'ill hae her run 0' heck an' nnanger sae lang as she lives; theGlen wudna like tae see anither nnan 0n Jess, and nae nnan 'ill evert0uch the auld nnare."

"Dinna nnind nne, Paitrick, f0r a' expeckit this; but ye ken we're n0verra gleg wi' 00r t0ngues in Drunnt0chty, an' dinna tell a' that'sin 00r hearts.