If it had been something to do _yoursell_ good there would
have been some sense in it, and some chance that you wad not have come
back on me in a hurry; but a man may have a hundred friends, and
petitions for every ane of them, ilk ane after other."
"Your Majesty, I trust," said Heriot, "will judge me by
former experience, and will not suspect me of such presumption."
"I kenna," said the placable monarch; "the world goes daft, I think--
_sed semel insanivimus omnes_--thou art my old and faithful servant,
that is the truth; and, were't any thing for thy own behoof, man, thou
shouldst not ask twice. But, troth, Steenie loves me so dearly, that
he cares not that any one should ask favours of me but himself.--
Maxwell," (for the usher had re-entered after having carried off the
plate,) "get into the ante-chamber wi' your lang lugs.--In conscience,
Geordie, I think as that thou hast been mine ain auld fiduciary, and
wert my goldsmith when I might say with the Ethnic poet--_Non mea
renidet in domo lacunar_--for, faith, they had pillaged my mither's
auld house sae, that beechen bickers, and treen trenchers, and latten
platters, were whiles the best at our board, and glad we were of
something to put on them, without quarrelling with the metal of the
dishes. D'ye mind, for thou wert in maist of our complots, how we were
fain to send sax of the Blue-banders to harry the Lady of Loganhouse's
dowcot and poultry-yard, and what an awfu' plaint the poor dame made
against Jock of Milch, and the thieves of Annandale, wha were as
sackless of the deed as I am of the sin of murder?"
"It was the better for Jock," said Heriot; "for, if I remember weel,
it saved him from a strapping up at Dumfries, which he had weel
deserved for other misdeeds.
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