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Chapter 24

           Stewart,”saidI,inavoicethatquiveredlikeafiddle-string,“youareolderthanIam,andshouldknowyourmanners.Doyouthinkiteitherverywiseorverywittytocastmypoliticsinmyteeth?Ithought,wherefolkdiffered,itwasthepartofgentlementodiffercivilly;andifIdidnot,ImaytellyouIcouldfindabettertauntthansomeofyours.”

           Alanhadstoppedoppositetome,hishatcocked,hishandsinhisbreechespockets,hisheadalittleononeside.Helistened,smilingevilly,asIcouldseebythestarlight;andwhenIhaddonehebegantowhistleaJacobiteair.ItwastheairmadeinmockeryofGeneralCope’sdefeatatPrestonPans:

           “Hey,JohnnieCope,areyewaukin’yet?

           Andareyourdrumsa-beatin’yet?”

           AnditcameinmymindthatAlan,onthedayofthatbattle,hadbeenengagedupontheroyalside.

           “Whydoyetakethatair,Mr.Stewart?”saidI.“Isthattoremindmeyouhavebeenbeatenonbothsides?”

           TheairstoppedonAlan’slips.“David!”saidhe.

           “Butit’stimethesemannersceased,”Icontinued;“andImeanyoushallhenceforthspeakcivillyofmyKingandmygoodfriendstheCampbells.”

           “IamaStewartbeganAlan.

           “O!”saysI,“Ikenyebearaking’sname.Butyouaretoremember,sinceIhavebeenintheHighlands,Ihaveseenagoodmanyofthosethatbearit;andthebestIcansayofthemisthis,thattheywouldbenonetheworseofwashing.”

           “Doyouknowthatyouinsultme?”saidAlan,verylow.

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