He never was ! '' `` That 's no fault of mine nor yet of yours , '' said Alan ; `` nor yet of Hoseason 's , if he 's a man that can be trusted . '' `` What do ye mean ? '' cried Ebenezer . `` Did Hoseason tell ye ? '' `` Why , ye donnered auld runt , how else would I ken ? '' cried Alan . `` Hoseason and me are partners ; we gang shares ; so ye can see for yoursel ' what good ye can do leeing . And I must plainly say ye drove a fool 's bargain when ye let a man like the sailor-man so far forward in your private matters . But that 's past praying for ; and ye must lie on your bed the way ye made it . And the point in hand is just this : what did ye pay him ? '' `` Has he tauld ye himsel ' ? '' asked my uncle . `` That 's my concern , '' said Alan . `` Weel , '' said my uncle , `` I dinnae care what he said , he leed , and the solemn God 's truth is this , that I gave him twenty pound . But I 'll be perfec ` ly honest with ye : forby that , he was to have the selling of the lad in Caroliny , whilk would be as muckle mair , but no from my pocket , ye see . '' `` Thank you , Mr. Thomson . That will do excellently well , '' said the lawyer , stepping forward ; and then mighty civilly , `` Good-evening , Mr. Balfour , '' said he . And , `` Good-evening , Uncle Ebenezer , '' said I. And , `` It 's a braw nicht , Mr. Balfour , '' added Torrance . Never a word said my uncle , neither black nor white ; but just sat where he was on the top door-step and stared upon us like a man turned to stone .
XXXXX filched away his blunderbuss ; and the lawyer , taking him by the arm , plucked him up from the doorstep , led him into the kitchen , whither we all followed , and set him down in a chair beside the hearth , where the fire was out and only a rush-light burning .
Alan Ebenezer Torrance auld forby himsel leeing nicht pound whilk