“Ye may be richt aboot the lan’, laird, the mair’s the pity!” answered Grizzie; “but the futpath, beggin’ the pardon o’ baith lairdship and lordship, belangs to me as muckle as to aither o’ ye. Here I stan’, alane for mysel’! That ro’d ’s my neebor, an’ I’m bun’ to see til ’t, for it wad be a sair vex to mony a puir body like mysel’ to louse the richt til ’t.” “You’ll have to prove what you say, woman,” said his lordship. “Surely, Grizzie,” expostulated the laird, “his lordship maun un’erstan’ affairs o’ this natur’, as well ’s you or me!” “As to the un’erstan’in’ o’ them, laird, I mak nae doobt,” returned Grizzie; “an’ as little ’at he’s o’ the wrang side o’ the wa’ this time.” “Na, Grizzie--for he’s upo’ _my_ side o’ ’t, an’ walcome.” “He’s jist as walcome, naither mair nor less, to the path I made wi’ my ain feet throu’ the rouchest pleughed lan’ I ever crossed.” Therewith Grizzie, who hated compromise, turned away, and went into the kitchen. “Come this way, my lord,” said the laird. “Take the dog home,” said his lordship to the bailiff. “Have him shot the first thing to-morrow morning. If it weren’t the Sabbath, I’d have it done to-night.” “He’s good watch, my lord,” interceded the man. “He may be a good watch, but he’s a bad dog,” replied his lordship. “I’ll have neither man nor dog about me that doesn’t know his master. You may poison him if you prefer it.” “Come awa’, come awa’, my lord!” said the laird. “This, as ye hae said, ’s the Sabbath-nicht, an’ the thoucht o’ ’t sud mak us mercifu’. I hae naething to offer ye but a cheir to rist ye in, an syne we’ll tak the ro’d like neebors thegither an’ I’ll shaw ye the w’y hame.” His lordship yielded, for his poor thin legs were yet trembling with the successful effort they had made under the inspiration of fear, and now that spur was gone, the dyke seemed a rampart insurmountable, and he dared not attempt it. “What are you keeping that cursed dog there for?” he said, catching sight, as he turned, of Cosmo, who held Covenant by the back of the neck. “I am only waiting till your lordship’s mastiff is out of the way,” answered Cosmo. “That you may set him at me again, as that old hag of yours did this morning!” As he spoke they had neared the kitchen-door, open as usual, and Grizzie heard what he said. “That’s as big a lee as ever your lordship h’ard tell i’ the coort,” she cried. “It’s the natur o’ dougs to tak scunners. They see far ben. Fess the beast in here, Cosmo; I s’ be answerable for ’im. The puir animal canna bide my lord.” “Hoot, hoot, Grizzie,” began the laird anew, with displeasure in his tone, but already the dog was in, and the kitchen-door closed.