"Pe tamned if I touch you!" he cried, and asked me bitterly what
right I had to stand up before "shentlemans" when I did not know
the back of a sword from the front of it.
I answered that was the fault of my upbringing; and would he do me
the justice to say I had given him all the satisfaction it was
unfortunately in my power to offer, and had stood up like a man?
"And that is the truth," said he. "I am fery prave myself, and
pold as a lions. But to stand up there--and you ken naething of
fence!--the way that you did, I declare it was peyond me. And I am
sorry for the plow; though I declare I pelief your own was the
elder brother, and my heid still sings with it. And I declare if I
had kent what way it wass, I would not put a hand to such a piece
of pusiness."
"That is handsomely said," I replied, "and I am sure you will not
stand up a second time to be the actor for my private enemies."
"Indeed, no, Palfour," said he; "and I think I was used extremely
suffeeciently myself to be set up to fecht with an auld wife, or
all the same as a bairn whateffer! And I will tell the Master so,
and fecht him, by Cot, himself!"
"And if you knew the nature of Mr.
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