Page:Poems Douglas.djvu/67

"Noo," quo he, "nae mair thochts on it,
 Allan, ye maun venture ben;
Syne he stauns an' doffs his bonnet
 'Fore the heroes o' the pen.
To an inner door directed,
 Allan moves wi' sullen pride,
For his een hath sneers detected—
 Titters sound on ilka side.

But the mockers quickly tint him,
 For the baze-begirded door,
Slappin' noiselessly ahint him,
 Closed him in their head before.
'Maist dumfounder'd, Allan scanned him,
 Frae his tongue nae words wad fa'.
Till the pleasant "Well, Sir," manned him,
 When he simply told him a'.

Tall the stranger was, and portly,
 Features dignified, yet bland,
Manners affable, yet courtly,
 Like ane used aye to command.
A' his letters, for perusal,
 Allan frae his baggie drew,
But the grand ane's soft refusal
 Came in, "Sorry these won't do."

Wi' a sigh he couldna stifle,
 Allan back his papers took:
Changes aft hang on a trifle—
 Frae his bag keeked out a book,