"I ’listed when I was fou’; and though I had nae objections at ony time to fire a gun at a bird or a Frenchman, or tae fecht them that wad fecht me, yet the sodjers at Stirlin’ made a fule o’ me, and keepit me walkin’ and trampin’ back and forrid for twa weeks in the yaird, as if they were breakin’ a horse; and I could dae naething, neither fish, nor e’en shoot craws, wi’oot the leave o’ an ill-tongued corporal. I couldna thole that, could I? It wasna in the bargain, and sae I left, and they didna think it worth their while to speer after me." "Egad!" said his lordship, laughing, "I dare say not, I dare say not! Do you know what they might have done to you if they had caught you, my man?" asked his lordship. "Shot me, I expec’," said Jock; "but I wasna worth the pooder; and, tae tell the truth, I wad raither be shot like a gled for harryin’ a paitrick’s nest, than be kept a’ my days like a gowk in a cage o’ a berricks at Stirlin’! But I didna heed atweel whether they shot me or no’," added Jock, looking round him, and stroking his chin as if in a half dream. "The black dog tak’ ye!" said Spence, who lost his temper. "My lord, I declare----" "Never mind, Spence, never mind; let him speak to me; and go you to the servants’ hall until I send for you." Spence bowed and retired, thankful to be released from his present agony. His lordship, who had a passion for characters which the keeper could not comprehend, gave a sign to Jock to remain, and then went on with the following catechism. "What did your parents do?" "Little guid and mickle ill." "Were you at school?" "No’ that I mind o’." "How have ye lived?" "Guid kens!" "What have you been?" "A ne’er-do-weel--a kin’ o’ cheat-the-widdie. Sae folk tell me, and I suppose they’re richt." "Are you married?" "That’s no’ a bad ane, efter a’!" said Jock, with a quiet laugh, turning his head away. "A bad what?" asked his lordship, perplexed by the reply. "I jist thocht," said Jock, "yer honour was jokin’, to think that ony wumman wad marry me! He! he! Lassies wad be cheaper than cast-awa’ shoon afore ony o’ them wad tak’ Jock Ha’--unless," he added, in a lower tone, with a laugh, "ane like Luckie Craigie. But yer lordship ’ill no’ ken her, I’se warrant?" "I have not that honour," said his lordship, with a smile. "But I must admit that you don’t give yourself a good character, anyhow." "I hae nane to gie," said Jock, with the same impassible look. "On my word," added his lordship, "I think you’re honest!" "It’s mair," said Jock, "than onybody else thinks. But if I had wark, I’m no’ sure but I wad be honest!" His lordship said nothing, but stared at Hall as if measuring him from head to foot. Jock returned his gaze. It was as if two different portions of a broken-up world had met. His lordship felt uncertain whether to deal with Jock as a fool or as a reprobate. He still inclined to the opinion that he had "a want", and accordingly continued his catechism, asking,--