"Aweel, sir, just as you and he like--so ye see to my business," said Dandie, not a whit disconcerted by the roughness of this reception. "We're at the auld wark o' the marches again, Jock o' Dawston Cleugh and me. Ye see we march on the tap o' Touthop Rigg after we pass the Pomoragrains; for the Pomoragrains, and Slackenspool, and Bloodylaws, they come in there, and they belang to the Peel; but after ye pass Pomoragrains at a muckle great saucer-headed cutlugged stane, that they ca' Charlie's Chuckie, there Dawston Cleugh and Charlies-hope they march. Now, I say, the march rins on the tap o' the hill where the wind and water shears; but Jock o' Dawston Cleugh again, he contravenes that, and says, that it hauds down by the auld drove-road that gaes awa by the Knot o' the Gate ower to Keeldar Ward--and that makes an unco [*Uncommon ] difference." "And what difference does it make, friend?" said Pleydell. "How many sheep will it feed?" "Ou, no mony," said Dandie, scratching his head, it's lying high and exposed--it may feed a hog, or aiblins [*Perhaps ] twa in a good year." "And for this grazing, which may be worth about five shillings a year, you are willing to throw away a hundred pound or two?" "Na, sir, it's no for the value of the grass," replied Dinmont; "it's for justice." "My good friend," said Pleydell, "justice, like charity, should begin at home. Do you justice to your wife and family, and think no more about-the matter." Dinmont still lingered, twisting his hat in his hand-" It's no for that, sir--but I would like ill to be bragged wi' him--he threeps [*Declares ] he'll bring a score o' witnesses and mair--and I'm sure there's as mony will swear for me as for him, folk that lived a' their days upon the Charlies-hope, and wadna like to see the land lose its right." "Zounds, man, if it be a point of honour," said the lawyer, "why don't your landlords take it up?" "I dinna ken, sir" (scratching his head again), "there's been nae election-dusts lately, and the lairds are unco neighbourly, and Jock and me canna get them to yoke thegither about it a' that we can say--but if ye thought we might keep up the rent--" "No! no! that will never do," said Pleydell,--"confound you, why don't you take good cudgels and settle it?" "Odd, sir," answered the farmer, "we tried that three times already--that's twice on the land add ance at Lockerby fair.--But I dinna ken--we're baith gey good at single-stick, and it couldna weel be judged." "Then take broadswords, and be d-d to you, as your fathers did before you," said the counsel learned in the law. "Aweel, sir, if ye think it wadna be again the law, it's a' ane to Dandie." "Hold! Hold!" exclaimed Pleydell, "we shall have another Lord Soulis' mistake--Pr'ythee, man, comprehend me; I wish you to consider how very trifling and foolish a lawsuit you wish to engage in." "Ay, sir?" said Dandie, in a disappointed tone. "So ye winna take on wi' me, I'm doubting?"