 tam carum caput, as he would venture to term
him, at the Lodge of Roseneath. Duncan of Knock, whose ideas were somewhat
conglomerated, and who, it may be believed, was no great scholar, catching up
some imperfect sound of the words, conceived the speaker was drawing a parallel
between the Duke and Sir Donald Gorme of Sleat; and being of opinion that such
comparison was odious, snorted thrice, and prepared himself to be in a passion.
    To the explanation of the venerable divine the Captain answered, »I heard
the word Gorme myself, sir, with my ain ears. D'ye think I do not know Gaelic
from Latin?«
    »Apparently not, sir;« - so the clergyman, offended in his turn, and taking
a pinch of snuff, answered with great coolness.
    The copper nose of the gracious Duncan now became heated like the Bull of
Phalaris, and while Mr. Archibald mediated betwixt the offended parties, and the
attention of the company was engaged by their dispute, Butler took an
opportunity to effect his retreat.
    He found the females at Auchingower very anxious for the breaking up of the
convivial party; for it was a part of the arrangement, that although David Deans
was to remain at Auchingower, and Butler was that night to take possession of
the Manse, yet Jeanie, for whom complete accommodations were not yet provided in
her father's house, was to return for a day or two to the Lodge at Roseneath,
and the boats had been held in readiness accordingly. They waited, therefore,
for Knockdunder's return, but twilight came, and they still waited in vain. At
length Mr. Archibald, who was a man of decorum, had taken care not to exceed in
his conviviality, made his appearance, and advised the females strongly to
return to the island under his escort; observing, that, from the humour in which
he had left the Captain, it was a great chance whether he budged out of the
public-house that night, and it was absolutely certain that he would not be very
fit company for ladies. The gig was at their disposal, he said, and there was
still pleasant twilight for a party on the water.
    Jeanie, who had considerable confidence in Archibald's prudence, immediately
acquiesced in this proposal; but Mrs. Dolly positively objected to the small
boat. If the big boat could be gotten, she agreed to set out, otherwise she
would sleep on the floor, rather than stir a step. Reasoning with Dolly was out
of the question, and Archibald did not think
