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44,573
The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
for really we hae had but little luck among us since the spirit o' disinheritance got the upper hand; and it would be a great comfort if a' sores could be salved and healed in the fulness of time, when the weans can be married according to law.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'I do assure you, mother,' replied her dutiful son, 'that nothing would give me greater pleasure; and I hope, that, by the frequent renewal of these little cordial and friendly meetings, we may help forward so desirable an event.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'But,' replied the old Leddy piously, 'marriages are made in Heaven; and, unless there has been a booking among the angels above, a' that can be done by man below, even to the crying, for the third and last time, in the kirk, will be only a thrashing the water and a raising of bells.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Howsever, the prayers of the righteous availeth much; and we should a' endeavour, by our walk and conversation, to compass a work so meet for repentance until it's brought to a come-to-pass.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
So I hope, Bell Fatherlans, that ye'll up and be doing in this good work, watching and praying, like those who stand on the tower of Siloam looking towards Lebanon.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'I think,' said Mrs. Charles smiling, 'that you are looking far forward.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
The children are still but mere weans, and many a day must pass over their green heads before such a project ought even to be thought of.'
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'It's weel kent, Bell,' replied her mother-in-law, 'that ye were ne'er a queen of Sheba, either for wisdom or forethought; but I hae heard my friend that's awa--your worthy father, Geordie--often say, that as the twig is bent the tree's inclined, which is a fine sentiment, and should teach us to set about our undertaki...
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
But just as the Leddy was thus expatiating away in high solemnity, a dreadful cry arose among the pre-ordained lovers.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
The children had quarrelled; and, notwithstanding all the admonitions which they had received to be kind to one another, Miss Robina had given James a slap on the face, which he repaid with such instantaneous energy, that, during the remainder of the visit, they were never properly reconciled.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Other causes were also in operation destined to frustrate the long-forecasting prudence of her father.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Mr. and Mrs. Eadie, on their arrival at Edinburgh, took up their abode with her relation Mr. Frazer, the intending purchaser of Glengael; and they had not been many days in his house, till they came to the determination to adopt Ellen, his eldest daughter, who was then about the age of James.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Accordingly, after having promoted the object of their journey, when they returned to the manse of Camrachle, they were allowed to take Ellen with them; and the intimacy which arose among the children in the progress of time ripened into love between her and James.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
For although his uncle, in the prosecution of his own purpose, often invited the boy to spend several days together with his cousin at Kittlestonheugh, and did everything in his power during those visits to inspire the children with a mutual affection, their distaste for each other seemed only to increase.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Robina was sly and demure, observant, quiet, and spiteful.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Ellen, on the contrary, was full of buoyancy and glee, playful and generous, qualities which assimilated much more with the dispositions of James than those of his cousin, so that, long before her beauty had awakened passion, she was to him a more interesting and delightful companion.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
The amusements, also, at Camrachle, were more propitious to the growth of affection than those at Kittlestonheugh, where every thing was methodized into system, and where, if the expression may be allowed, the genius of design and purpose controlled and repressed nature.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
The lawn was preserved in a state of neatness too trim for the gambols of childhood; and the walks were too winding for the straight-forward impulses of its freedom and joy.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
At Camrachle the fields were open, and their expanse unbounded.
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The sun, James often thought, shone brighter there than at Kittlestonheugh; the birds sang sweeter in the wild broom than in his uncle's shrubbery, and the moonlight glittered like gladness in the burns; but on the wide water of the Clyde it was always dull and silent.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
There are few situations more congenial to the diffusion of tenderness and sensibility--the elements of affection--than the sunny hills and clear waters of a rural neighbourhood, and few of all the beautiful scenes of Scotland excel the environs of Camrachle.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
The village stands on the slope of a gentle swelling ground, and consists of a single row of scattered thatched cottages, behind which a considerable stream carries its tributary waters to the Cart.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
On the east end stands the little church, in the centre of a small cemetery, and close to it the modest mansion of the minister.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
The house which Mrs. Walkinshaw occupied was a slated cottage near the manse.
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It was erected by a native of the village, who had made a moderate competency as a tradesman in Glasgow; and, both in point of external appearance and internal accommodation, it was much superior to any other of the same magnitude in the parish.
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A few ash-trees rose among the gardens, and several of them were tufted with the nests of magpies, the birds belonging to which had been so long in the practice of resorting there, that they were familiar to all the children of the village.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
But the chief beauty in the situation of Camrachle is a picturesque and extensive bank, shaggy with hazel, along the foot of which runs the stream already mentioned.
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The green and gowany brow of this romantic terrace commands a wide and splendid view of all the champaign district of Renfrewshire.
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And it was often observed, by the oldest inhabitants, that whenever any of the natives of the clachan had been long absent, the first spot they visited on their return was the crown of this bank, where they had spent the sunny days of their childhood.
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Here the young Walkinshaws and Ellen Frazer also instinctively resorted, and their regard for each other was not only ever after endeared by the remembrance of their early pastimes there, but associated with delightful recollections of glorious summer sunshine, the fresh green mornings of spring, and the golden evening...
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
CHAPTER LXIV As James approached his fourteenth year, his uncle, still with a view to a union with Robina, proposed, that, when Mr. Eadie thought his education sufficient for the mercantile profession, he should be sent to his counting-house.
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But the early habits and the tenor of the lessons he had received were not calculated to ensure success to James as a merchant.
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He was robust, handsome, and adventurous, fond of active pursuits, and had imbibed, from the Highland spirit of Mrs. Eadie, a tinge of romance and enthusiasm.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
The bias of his character, the visions of his reveries, and the cast of his figure and physiognomy, were decidedly military.
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But the field of heroic enterprise was then vacant,--the American war was over, and all Europe slumbered in repose, unconscious of the hurricane that was then gathering; and thus, without any consideration of his own inclinations and instincts, James, like many of those who afterwards distinguished themselves in the gr...
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
He had not, however, been above three or four years settled in Glasgow when his natural distaste for sedentary and regular business began to make him dislike the place; and his repugnance was heightened almost to disgust by the discovery of his uncle's sordid views with respect to him; nor, on the part of his cousin, w...
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
But Leddy Grippy had set her mind on the match as strongly as her son; and, in consequence, neither felt nor showed any sympathy for Robina.
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'Never fash your head,' she said to her one day, when the young lady was soliciting her mediation,--'Never fash your head, Beenie, my dear, about Jamie's calf-love of yon daffodil; but be an obedient child, and walk in the paths of pleasantness that ye're ordain't to, both by me and your father; for we hae had oure lan...
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'But,' replied the disconsolate damsel, 'even though he had no precious attachment, I'll ne'er consent to marry him, for really I can never fancy him.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'And what for can ye no fancy him?' cried the Leddy--'I would like to ken that?
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But, to be plain wi' you, Beenie, it's a shame to hear a weel educated miss like you, brought up wi' a Christian principle, speaking about fancying young men.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Sic a thing was never alloo't nor heard tell o' in my day and generation.
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But that comes o' your ganging to see Douglas tragedy, at that kirk o' Satan in Dunlop Street; where, as I am most creditably informed, the play-actors court ane another afore a' the folk.'
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'I am sure you have yourself experienced,' replied Robina, 'what it is to entertain a true affection, and to know that our wishes and inclinations are not under our own control.--How would you have liked had your father forced you to marry a man against your will?' 'Lassie, lassie!' exclaimed the Leddy, 'if ye live to...
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
But there's no sincerity noo like the auld sincerity, when me and your honest grandfather, that was in mine, and is noo in Abraham's bosom, came thegither--we had no foistring and parleyvooing, like your novelle turtle-doves--but discoursed in a sober and wise-like manner anent the cost and charge o' a family; and the ...
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Ah!
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
but your affection was mutual from the beginning--you were not perhaps devoted to another?' 'Gude guide us, Beenie Walkinshaw!
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
are ye devoted to another?--Damon and Phillis, pastorauling at hide and seek wi' their sheep, was the height o' discretion, compared wi' sic curdooing.
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My lass, I'll let no grass grow beneath my feet, till I hae gi'en your father notice o' this loup-the-window, and hey cockalorum-like love.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Impossible!' exclaimed the young lady; 'you will never surely be so rash as to betray me?'
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'Wha is't wi'--But I need na speer; for I'll be none surprised to hear that it's a play-actor, or a soldier officer, or some other clandestine poetical.'
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Miss possessed more shrewdness than her grandmother gave her credit for, and perceiving the turn and tendency of their conversation, she exerted all her address to remove the impression which she had thus produced, by affecting to laugh, saying,-- 'What has made you suppose that I have formed any improper attachment?
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
I was only anxious that you should speak to my father, and try to persuade him that I can never be happy with my cousin.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'How can I persuade him o' ony sic havers?
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or how can ye hope that I would if it was in my power--when ye know what a comfort it will be to us a', to see such a prudent purpose
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
o' marriage brought to perfection?--Na, na, Beenie, ye're an instrument in the hands o' Providence to bring aboot a great blessing to your family; and I would be as daft as your uncle Watty, when he gaed out to shoot the flees, were I to set mysel an adversary to such a righteous ordinance--so you maun just mak up your...
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
My word, but ye're weel an to be married in your teens--I was past thirty before man speer't my price.'
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'But,' said Robina, 'you forget that James himself has not yet consented--I am sure he is devoted to Ellen Frazer--and that he will never consent.'
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'Weel, I declare if e'er I heard the like of sic upsetting.--I won'er what business either you or him hae to consenting or non-consenting.--Is't no the pleasure o' your parentage that ye're to be married, and will ye dare to commit the sin of disobedient children?
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Beenie Walkinshaw, had I said sic a word to my father, who was a man o' past-ordinar sense, weel do I ken what I would hae gotten--I only just ance in a' my life, in a mistak, gied him a contradiction, and he declared that, had I been a son as I was but a dochter, he would hae grippit me by the cuff o' the neck and the...
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
But the end o' the world is drawing near, and corruption's working daily to a head; a' modesty and maidenhood has departed frae womankind, and the sons of men are workers of iniquity--priests o' Baal, and transgressors every one--a', therefore, my leddy, that I hae to say to you is a word o' wisdom, and they ca't confo...
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Robina was, however, in no degree changed by her grandmother's exhortations and animadversions; on the contrary, she was determined to take her own way, which is a rule that we would recommend to all young ladies, as productive of the happiest consequences in cases of the tender passion.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
But scarcely had she left the house, till Leddy Grippy, reflecting on what had passed, was not quite at ease in her mind, with respect to the sentimental insinuation of being devoted to another.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
For, although, in the subsequent conversation, the dexterity and address of the young lady considerably weakened the impression which it had at first made, still enough remained to make her suspect it really contained more than was intended to have been conveyed.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
But, to avoid unnecessary disturbance, she resolved to give her son a hint to observe the motions of his daughter, while, at the same time, she also determined to ascertain how far there was any ground to suppose that from the attachment of James to Ellen Frazer, there was reason to apprehend that he might likewise be ...
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
And with this view she sent for him that evening--but what passed will furnish matter for another chapter.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
CHAPTER LXV The Leddy was seated at her tea-table when young Walkinshaw arrived, and, as on all occasions when she had any intention in her head, she wore an aspect pregnant with importance.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
She was now an old woman, and had so long survived the sorrows of her widowhood, that even the weeds were thrown aside, and she had resumed her former dresses, unchanged from the fashion in which they were originally made.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Her appearance, in consequence, was at once aged and ancient.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Come your ways, Jamie,' said she, 'and draw in a chair and sit down; but, afore doing sae, tell the lass to bring ben the treck-pot,'--which he accordingly did; and as soon as the treck-pot, alias teapot, was on the board, she opened her trenches.
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'Jamie,' she began, 'your uncle George has a great notion of you, and has done muckle for your mother, giving her, o' his own free will, a handsome 'nuity; by the which she has brought you, and Mary your sister, up wi' great credit and confort.
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I would therefore fain hope, that, in the way o' gratitude, there will be no slackness on your part.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
James assured her that he had a very strong sense of his uncle's kindness; and that, to the best of his ability, he would exert himself to afford him every satisfaction; but that Glasgow was not a place which he much liked, and that he would rather go abroad, and push his fortune elsewhere, than continue confined to th...
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'There's baith sense and sadness, Jamie, in what ye say,' replied the Leddy; 'but I won'er what ye would do abroad, when there's sic a bein beild biggit for you at home.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Ye ken, by course o' nature, that your uncle's ordaint to die, and that he has only his ae dochter Beenie, your cousin, to inherit the braw conquest o' your worthy grandfather--the whilk, but for some mistak o' law, and the sudden o'ercome o' death amang us, would hae been yours by right o' birth.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
So that it's in a manner pointed out to you by the forefinger o' Providence to marry Beenie.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
James was less surprised at this suggestion than the old lady expected, and said, with a degree of coolness that she was not prepared for,-- 'I dare say what you speak of would not be disagreeable to my uncle, for several times he has himself intimated as much, but it is an event that can never take place.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'And what for no?
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I'm sure Beenie's fortune will be a better bargain than a landless lad like you can hope for at ony other hand.'
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'True, but I'll never marry for money.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'And what will ye marry for, then?'
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exclaimed the Leddy.
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'Tak my word o' experience for't, my man,--a warm downseat's o' far mair consequence in matrimony than the silly low o' love; and think what a bonny business your father and mother made o' their gentle-shepherding.
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But, Jamie, what's the reason ye'll no tak Beenie?--there maun surely be some because for sic unnaturality?'
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'Why,' said he laughing, 'I think it's time enough for me yet to be dreaming o' marrying.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'That's no a satisfaction to my question; but there's ae thing I would fain gie you warning o', and that's, if ye'll no marry Beenie, I dinna think ye can hae ony farther to look, in the way o' patronage, frae your uncle.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Then,' said James indignantly, 'if his kindness is only given on such a condition as that, I ought not to receive it an hour longer.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Here's a tap o' tow!' exclaimed the Leddy.
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'Aff and awa wi' you to your mother at Camrachle, and gallant about the braes and dyke-sides wi' that lang windlestrae-legget tawpie, Nell Frizel--
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
She's the because o' your rebellion.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'Deed ye may think shame o't, Jamie; for it's a' enough to bring disgrace on a' manner o' affection to hear what I hae heard about you and her.'
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'What have you heard?' cried he, burning with wrath and indignation.
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'The callan's gaun aff at the head, to look at me as if his e'en were pistols--How dare ye, sir?--But it's no worth my while to lose my temper wi' a creature that doesna ken the homage and honour due to his aged grandmother.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Howsever, I'll be as plain as I'm pleasant wi' you, my man; and if there's no an end soon put to your pastoraulity wi' yon
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Highland heron, and a sedate and dutiful compliancy vouchsafed to your benefactor, uncle George, there will be news in the land or lang.'
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
'You really place the motives of my uncle's conduct towards me in a strange light, and you forget that Robina is perhaps as strongly averse to the connection as I am.'
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'So she would fain try to gar me true,' replied the Leddy; 'the whilk is a most mystical thing; but, poor lassie, I needna be surprised at it, when she jealouses that your affections are set on a loup-the-dyke Jenny Cameron like Nell Frizel.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Howsever, Jamie, no to make a confabble about the matter, there can be no doubt if ye'll sing "We'll gang nae mair to yon toun," wi' your back to the manse o' Camrachle, that Beenie, who is a most sweet-tempered and obedient fine lassie, will soon be wrought into a spirit of conformity wi' her father's will and my wish...
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'I cannot but say,' replied Walkinshaw, 'that you consider affection as very pliant.
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The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy
Nor do I know why you take such liberties with Miss Frazer; who, in every respect, is infinitely superior to Robina.'