And a jug of toddy, to the value of one shilling, was accordingly ordered and produced, over which the two got as thick as ben-leather. "Ye're a guid fiddler--I'll say that o' ye," quoth Willie, after tossing down the first glass of the warm, exhilarating beverage. "I wad never wish to hear a better." "I have had some practice," said the other, modestly, and at the same time following his companion's example with his glass. "Nae doot, nae doot, sae's seen on your playin," replied the latter. "How do you fend wi' your fiddle? Do ye mak onything o' a guid leevin o't?" "No that ill ava," said the stranger. "I play for the auld leddy at the castle--Castle Gowan, ye ken; indeed, I'm sometimes ca'd the leddy's fiddler, and she's uncommon guid to me. I neither want bite nor sowp when I gang there." "That's sae far weel," replied Willie. "She's a guid judge o' music that Leddy Gowan, as I hear them say; and I'm tauld her son, Sir John, plays a capital bow." "No amiss, I believe," said the stranger; "but the leddy, as ye say, is an excellent judge o' music, although whiles, I think, rather owre fond o't, for she maks me play for hours thegither, when I wad far rather be wi' Tam Yule, her butler, a sonsy, guid-natured chiel, that's no sweer o' the cap. But, speaking o' that, I'll tell ye what, frien," he continued, "if ye'll come up to Castle Gowan ony day, I'll be blithe to see you, for I'm there at least ance every day, and I'll warrant ye--for ye see I can use every liberty there--in a guid het dinner, an' a jug o' better toddy to wash it owre wi'." "A bargain be't," quoth Willie; "will the morn do?" "Perfectly," said the stranger; "the sooner the better." This settled, Willie proceeded to a subject which had been for some time near his heart, but which he felt some delicacy in broaching. This feeling, however, having gradually given way before the influence of the toddy, and of his friend's frank and jovial manner, he at length ventured, though cautiously, to step on the ice. "That's an uncommon guid instrument o' yours, frien," he said. "Very good," replied his companion, briefly. "But ye'll hae mair than that ane, nae doot?" rejoined the other. "I hae ither twa." "In that case," said Willie, "maybe ye wad hae nae objection to pairt wi' that ane, an the price offered ye wur a' the mair temptin. I'll gie ye the saxteen shillins I hae won the nicht, an' my fiddle, for't." "Thank ye, frien, thank ye for your offer," replied the stranger; "but I daurna accept o't, though I war willin. The fiddle was gien to me by Leddy Gowan, and I daurna pairt wi't. She wad miss't, and then there wad be the deevil to pay." "Oh, an that's the case," said Willie, "I'll say nae mair aboot it; but it's a first-rate fiddle--sae guid a ane, that it micht amaist play the lane o't."