"An' what for sudna my man," she cried, at full height of her
screeching voice, "lay tu his han' wi' ither honest fowk to du for
the boat what him 'at was weel kent for the captain o' her, sin'
ever she was a boat, wantit dune? Wad ye tak the comman' o' the
boat, sir, as weel's o' a' thing ither aboot the place?"
"Hold your tongue, woman," said the factor; "I have nothing to say
to you."
"Aigh, sirs! but it's a peety ye wasna foreordeent to be markis
yersel'! It maun be a sair vex to ye 'at ye're naething but the
factor."
"If ye don't mind your manners, Mistress Fin'lay," said Mr Crathie
in glowing indignation, "perhaps you'll find that the factor is as
much as the marquis, when he's all there is for one."
"Lord safe 's hear till 'im !" cried the Partaness. "Wha wad hae
thoucht it o' 'im? There's fowk 'at it sets weel to tak upo' them!
His father, honest man, wad ne'er hae spoken like that to Meg
Partan; but syne he was an honest man, though he was but the heid
shepherd upo' the estate. Man, I micht hae been yer mither--gien
I had been auld eneuch for 's first wife, for he wad fain hae had
me for 's second."
"I've a great mind to take out a warrant against you, John Fin'lay,
otherwise called the Partan, as airt an' pairt in the stealing of
the Marchioness of Lossie's pleasure boat," said the factor.
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