LESLIE. It does not trouble me. BRODIE. I would not. 'Tis close to the window. LESLIE. It's on the right side of it. BRODIE. I give you my advice: I would not. LAWSON. He may be right there too, Mr. Leslie. BRODIE. I give him fair warning: it's not safe. LESLIE. I have a different treasure to concern myself about; if all goes right with that I shall be well contented. MARY. Walter! LAWSON. Ay, bairns, ye speak for your age. LESLIE. Surely, sir, for every age: the ties of blood, of love, of friendship, these are life's essence. MARY. And for no one is it truer than my uncle. If he live to be a thousand, he will still be young in heart, full of love, full of trust. LAWSON. Ah, lassie, it's a wicked world. MARY. Yes, you are out of sorts to-day; we know that. LESLIE. Admitted that you know more of life, sir; admitted (if you please) that the world is wicked; yet you do not lose trust in those you love. LAWSON. Weel ... ye get gliffs, ye ken. LESLIE. I suppose so. We can all be shaken for a time; but not, I think, in our friends. We are not deceived in them; in the few that we admit into our hearts. MARY. Never in these. LESLIE. We know these (_to BRODIE_), and we think the world of them. BRODIE (_at back_). We are more acquainted with each other's tailors, believe me. You, Leslie, are a very pleasant creature. My uncle Lawson is the Procurator-Fiscal. I--what am I? I am the Deacon of the Wrights; my ruffles are generally clean; and you think the world of me. Bravo! LESLIE. Ay, and I think the world of you. BRODIE (_at back, pointing to LAWSON_). Ask him. LAWSON. Hoot-toot. A wheen nonsense: an honest man's an honest man, and a randy thief's a randy thief, and neither mair nor less. Mary, my lamb, it's time you were hame, and had your beauty sleep. MARY. Do you not come with us? LAWSON. I gang the ither gate, my lamb. (_LESLIE helps MARY on with her cloak, and they say farewell at back. BRODIE, for the first time, comes front with LAWSON._) Sae ye've consented? BRODIE. As you see. LAWSON. Ye'll can pay it back? BRODIE. I will. LAWSON. And how? That's what I'm wonderin' to mysel'. BRODIE. Ay, God knows that. MARY. Come, Will. SCENE II LESLIE, LAWSON (_wrapping up_) LESLIE. I wonder what ails Brodie? LAWSON. How should I ken? What should I ken that ails him? LESLIE. He seemed angry even with you. LAWSON (_impatient_). Hoot awa'! LESLIE. Of course, I know. But you see, on the very day when our engagement is announced, even the best of men may be susceptible. You yourself seem not quite pleased. LAWSON (_with great irritation_). I'm perfectly pleased. I'm perfectly delighted. If I werena an auld man, I'd be just beside mysel' wi' happiness. LESLIE. Well, I only fancied ...