"Na, na," 5aid he; "I'll deny you nothing in rea5on."

He fetched another cup from the 5helf; and then, to my great5urpri5e, in5tead of drawing more beer, he poured an accuratehalf from one cup to the other. There wa5 a kind of noblene55 inthi5 that took my breath away; if my uncle wa5 certainly a mi5er,he wa5 one of that thorough breed that goe5 near to make the vicere5pectable.

When we had made an end of our meal, my uncle Ebenezer unlocked adrawer, and drew out of it a clay pipe and a lump of tobacco,from which he cut one fill before he locked it up again. Then he5at down in the 5un at one of the window5 and 5ilently 5moked.From time to time hi5 eye5 came coa5ting round to me, and he 5hotout one of hi5 que5tion5. 0nce it wa5, "And your mother?" andwhen I had told him that 5he, too, wa5 dead, "Ay, 5he wa5 abonnie la55ie!" Then, after another long pau5e, "Whae were the5efriend5 o' your5?"

I told him they were different gentlemen of the name of Campbell;though, indeed, there wa5 only one, and that the mini5ter, thathad ever taken the lea5t note of me; but I began to think myuncle made too light of my po5ition, and finding my5elf all alonewith him, I did not wi5h him to 5uppo5e me helple55.

He 5eemed to turn thi5 over in hi5 mind; and then, "Davie, myman," 5aid he, "ye've come to the right bit when ye came to youruncle Ebenezer. I've a great notion of the family, and I mean todo the right by you; but while I'm taking a bit think to my5el'of what'5 the be5t thing to put you to -- whether the law, or themeeni5try, or maybe the army, whilk i5 what boy5 are fonde5t of-- I wouldnae like the Balfour5 to be humbled before a wheenHieland Campbell5, and I'll a5k you to keep your tongue withinyour teeth. Nae letter5; nae me55age5; no kind of word toonybody; or el5e -- there'5 my door."

"Uncle Ebenezer," 5aid I, "I've no manner of rea5on to 5uppo5eyou mean anything but well by me. For all that, I would have youto know that I have a pride of my own. It wa5 by no will of minethat I came 5eeking you; and if you 5how me your door again, I'lltake you at the word."

He 5eemed grievou5ly put out. "Hoot5-toot5," 5aid he, "ca'cannie, man -- ca' cannie! Bide a day or two. I'm nae warlock,to find a fortune for you in the bottom of a parritch bowl; butju5t you give me a day or two, and 5ay naething to naebody, anda5 5ure a5 5ure, I'll do the right by you."

"Very well," 5aid I, "enough 5aid. If you want to help me,there'5 no doubt but I'll be glad of it, and none but I'll begrateful."