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44,573
The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'I am informed, Professor, that you are acquainted with Mr. Walter Walkinshaw.
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Will you have the goodness to tell the Court what is your opinion of that gentleman?'
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said the advocate.
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'My opinion is, that he is a very extraordinary man; for he put a question to me when I last saw him, which I have not yet been able to answer.'
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The advocate thought the Professor said this in irony,--and inquired, with a simper,-- 'And, pray, what might that question be?'
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'I was trying if he could calculate the aliquot parts of a pound; and he said to me, could I tell him the reason that there were but four and twenty bawbees in a shilling?'
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'You may retire,' said the advocate, disconcerted; and the Professor immediately withdrew; for still the counsel in behalf of Walter declined to cross-question.
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'The next witness that I shall produce,' resumed Mr. Threeper, 'is one whom I call with extreme reluctance.
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Every man must sympathize with the feelings of a mother on such an occasion as this,--and will easily comprehend, that, in the questions which my duty obliges me to put to Mrs. Walkinshaw, I am, as it were, obliged, out of that sacred respect which is due to her maternal sensibility, to address myself in more general terms than I should otherwise do.'
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The Leddy was then called,--and the advocate, with a solemn voice and pauses of lengthened sadness and commiseration, said,-- 'Madam, the Court and the jury do not expect you to enter into any particular description of the state of your unfortunate son.
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They only desire to know if you think he is capable of conducting his affairs like other men.'
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'Him capable!' exclaimed the Leddy.
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'
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He's no o' a capacity to be advised.'
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She would have proceeded further,--but Mr. Threeper interposed, saying, 'Madam, we shall not distress you further; the Court and the jury must be satisfied.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Not so was Mr. Keelevin, who nodded to Mr. Queerie, the counsel for Walter; and he immediately rose.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'I wish,' said he, 'just to put one question to the witness.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
How long is it since your son has been so incapable of acting for himself?'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'I canna gie you day nor date,' replied the Leddy; 'but he has been in a state of condumacity ever since his dochter died.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Indeed!' said Mr. Queerie; 'then he was not always incapable?'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'O no,' cried the Leddy; 'he was a most tractable creature, and the kindliest son,' she added, with a sigh; 'but since that time he's been neither to bind nor to haud, threatening to send me, his mother, a-garsing--garing me lay out my own lawful jointure on the house, and using me in the most horridable manner--wastring his income in the most thoughtless way.'
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Mr. Threeper began to whisper to our friend Gabriel, and occasionally to look, with an afflicted glance, towards the Leddy.
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Mr. Queerie resumed,-- 'Your situation, I perceive, has been for some time very unhappy--but, I suppose, were Mr. Walkinshaw to make you a reasonable compensation for the trouble you take in managing his house, you would have no objections still to continue with him.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Oh! to be surely,' said the Leddy;--'only it would need to be something worth while; and my gude-dochter and her family would require to be obligated to gang hame.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Certainly, what you say, Madam, is very reasonable,' rejoined
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Mr. Queerie;--'and I have no doubt that the Court perceives that a great part of your distress, from the idiotry of your son, arises from his having brought in the lady alluded to and her family.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'It has come a' frae that,' replied the witness, unconscious of the force of what she was saying;--'for, 'cepting his unnaturality to me about them, his idiocety is very harmless.'
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'Perhaps not worse than formerly?'
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A look from George at this crisis put her on her guard; and she instantly replied, as if eager to redeem the effects of what she had just said,-- ''Deed, Sir, it's no right to let him continue in the rule and power o' the property; for nobody can tell what he may commit.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
At this juncture, Mr. Queerie, perceiving her wariness, sat down; and the Reverend Dr. Denholm being called by Mr. Threeper, stated, in answer to the usual question,-- 'I acknowledge, that I do not think Mr. Walkinshaw entirely of a sound mind; but he has glaiks and gleams o' sense about him, that mak me very dootful if I could judicially swear, that he canna deport himsel wi' sufficient sagacity.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'But,' said the advocate, 'did not you yourself advise Mr. George Walkinshaw to institute these proceedings.'
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'I'll no disown that,' replied the Doctor; 'but Mr. Walter has since then done such a humane and a Christian duty to his brother's widow, and her two defenceless and portionless bairns, that I canna, in my conscience, think now so lightly of him as I once did.'
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Here the jury consulted together; and, after a short conference, the foreman inquired if Mr. Walkinshaw was in Court.
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On being answered in the negative, the Sheriff suggested an adjournment till next day, that he might be brought forward.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
CHAPTER LVI When the Leddy returned from the Court to Grippy, Walter, who had in the meantime been somehow informed of the nature of the proceedings instituted against him, said to his mother,-- 'Weel, mother, so ye hae been trying to mak me daft?
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but I'm just as wise as ever.'
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'Thou's ordaint to bring disgrace on us a',' was her answer, dictated under a feeling of vague apprehension, arising from the uncertainty which seemed to lower upon the issue of the process by the evidence of Dr. Denholm.
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'I'm sure I hae nae hand in't,' said Walter; 'an ye had na meddlet wi' me, I would ne'er hae spoken to Keelevin, to vex you.
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But I suppose, mother, that you and that wily headcadab Geordie hae made naething o' your fause witnessing.'
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'Haud thy fool tongue, and insult na me,' exclaimed the Leddy in a rage at the simpleton's insinuation, which was uttered without the slightest sentiment of reproach.
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'But,' she added, 'ye'll see what it is to stand wi' a het face afore the Court the morn.'
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'I'll no gang,' replied Walter; 'I hae nae broo o' Courts and law-pleas.'
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'But ye shall gang, if the life be in your body.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'I'll do nothing but what Mr. Keelevin bids me.'
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'Mr. Keelevin,' exclaimed the Leddy, 'ought to be drum't out o' the town for bringing sic trebalation intil my family.--What business had he, wi' his controversies, to gumle law and justice in the manner he has done the day?'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
And while she was thus speaking, George and Mr. Pitwinnoch made their appearance.
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'Hegh man, Geordie!' said Watty,--'I'm thinking, instead o' making me daft, ye hae demented my mother, poor bodie; for she's come hame wi' a flyte proceeding out of her mouth like a two-edged sword.'
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'If you were not worse than ye are,' said his brother, 'you would have compassion on your mother's feelings.'
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'I'm sure,' said Watty, 'I hae every compassion for her; but there was nae need o' her to wis to mak me daft.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
It's a foul bird that files its ain nest; and really, to speak my mind, I think, Geordie, that you and her were na wise, but far left to yoursels, to put your heads intil the hangman's halter o' a law-plea anent my intellectuals.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Gabriel Pitwinnoch, who began to distrust the effect of the evidence, was troubled not a little at this observation; for he thought, if Walter spoke as well to the point before the Court, the cause must be abandoned.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
As for George, he was scarcely in a state to think of any thing, so much was he confounded and vexed by the impression of Dr. Denholm's evidence, the tenor of which was so decidedly at variance with all he had flattered himself it would be.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
He, however, said,-- 'Ye're to be examined to-morrow, and what will you say for yourself?'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'I hae mair modesty,' replied Walter, 'than to be my ain trumpeter--I'll say naething
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but what Mr. Keelevin bids me.'
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Gabriel smiled encouragingly to George at this, who continued,-- 'You had better tak care what ye say.'
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'Na,' cried Watty, 'an that's the gait o't, I'll keep a calm sough--least said's soonest mendit--I'll haud my tongue.'
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'But you must answer every question.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Is't in the Shorter or the Larger Catechism?' said Walter.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'I can say till the third petition o' the t'ane, and frae end to end o' the t'ither.'
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'That's quite enough,' replied Gabriel, 'and more than will be required of you.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
But the satisfaction which such an agreeable exposure of the innocency of the simpleton was calculated to afford to all present, was disturbed at this juncture by the entrance of Mr. Keelevin.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'I'm glad, gentlemen,' said he, the moment he came in, 'that I have found you here.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
I think you must all be convinced that the investigation should na gang further.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
I'm sure Mr. Walter will be willing to grant a reasonable consideration to his mother for her care and trouble in the house, and even to assign a moitie o' his income to you, Mr. George.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Be counselled by me:--let us settle the matter in that manner quietly.'
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Pitwinnoch winked to his client,--and Wattie said,-- 'What for should I gie my mother ony more?
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Has na she bed, board, and washing, house-room and chattels, a' clear aboon her jointure?
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and I'm sure Geordie has nae lawful claim on me for ony aliment.--Od, Mr. Keelevin, it would be a terrible wastrie o' me to do the like o' that.
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They might weel mak me daft if I did sae.'
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'But it will be far decenter and better for a' parties to enter into some agreement of that sort.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Don't you think so, Mrs. Walkinshaw, rather than to go on with this harsh business of proving your son an idiot?'
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'I'm no an idiot, Mr. Keelevin,' exclaimed Walter--'though it seems to me that there's a thraw in the judgement o' the family, or my mother and brother would ne'er hae raised this stramash about my capacity to take care o' the property.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Did na I keep the cows frae the corn a' the last Ruglen fair-day, when Jock, the herd, got leave to gang in to try his luck and fortune at the roley-poleys?'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Honest Mr. Keelevin wrung his hands at this.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'I'm sure, sir,' said George, in his sleekest manner, 'that you must yourself, Mr. Keelevin, be quite sensible that the inquiry ought to proceed to a verdict.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'I'm sensible o' nae sic things, Mr. George,' was the indignant answer.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Your brother is in as full possession of all his faculties as when your father executed the cursed entail, or when he was married to Kilmarkeckle's dochter.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
''Deed, Mr. Keelevin,' replied Walter, 'ye're mista'en there; for I hae had twa teeth tuggit out for the toothache since syne; and I hae grown deaf in the left lug.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Did na I tell you,' said the worthy man, angrily, 'that ye were na to open your mouth?'
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'Really, Mr. Keelevin, I won'er to hear you,' replied the natural, with great sincerity; 'the mouth's the only trance-door that I ken to the belly.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Weel, weel,' again exclaimed his friend; 'mak a kirk and a mill o't; but be ruled by me, and let us draw up a reasonable agreement.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'I'm thinking, Mr. Keelevin, that ye dinna ken that I hae made a paction with mysel to sign nae law-papers, for fear it be to the injury of Betty Bodle.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Betty Bodle!' said Gabriel Pitwinnoch, eagerly; 'she has been long dead.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Ah!' said Walter, 'that's a' ye ken about it.
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She's baith living and life-like.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Mr. Keelevin was startled and alarmed at this; but abstained from saying any thing.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Gabriel also said nothing; but looked significantly to his client, who interposed, and put an end to the conversation.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Having gone so far,' said he, 'I could, with no respect for my own character, allow the proceedings to be now arrested.
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It is, therefore, unnecessary either to consider your suggestion, or to hold any further debate here on the subject.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Mr. Keelevin made no reply to this; but said, as he had something to communicate in private to his client, he would carry him to Glasgow for that night.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
To so reasonable and so professional a proposal no objection was made.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Walter himself also at once acquiesced, on the express condition, that he was not to be obliged to sign any law-papers.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
CHAPTER LVII Next day, when the Court again assembled, Walter was there, seated beside his agent, and dressed in his best.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Every eye was directed towards him; and the simple expression of wonder, mingled with anxiety, which the scene around him occasioned, gave an air of so much intelligence to his features, which were regular, and, indeed, handsome, that he excited almost universal sympathy; even Mr. Threeper was perplexed, when he saw him, at the proper time, rise from beside his friend, and, approaching the bottom of the table, make a slow and profound bow, first to the Sheriff and then to the jury.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'You are Mr. Walkinshaw, I believe?' said Mr. Threeper.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'I believe I am,' replied Walter, timidly.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'What are you, Mr. Walkinshaw?'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'A man, sir.--My mother and brother want to mak me a daft ane.'
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'How do you suspect them of any such intention?' 'Because ye see I'm here--I would na hae been here but for that.'