Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series - 1819.djvu/215

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A LEGEND OF MONTROSE.
205

whatever he has occasion for;" and accordingly he strode into the stable after his steed without farther apology.

Neither Lord Menteith nor his attendants paid the same attention to their horses, but, leaving them to the proffered care of the servants of the place, walked forward into the house, where a sort of dark vaulted vestibule displayed, among other miscellaneous articles, a huge barrel of two-penny ale, beside which were ranged two or three wooden queichs or bickers, ready, it would appear, for the service of whomsoever thought proper to employ them. Lord Menteith applied himself to the spigot, drank without ceremony, and then handed the stoup to Anderson, who followed his master's example, but not until he had flung out the drop of ale which remained, and slightly rinsed the wooden cup.

"What the de'il, man," said an old Highland servant belonging to the family, "can she no drink after her ain master without