Maclaren pressed them to taste his mutton-ham and `` the wife 's brose , '' reminding them the wife was out of Athole and had a name far and wide for her skill in that confection . But Robin put aside these hospitalities as bad for the breath . `` I would have ye to remark , sir , '' said Alan , `` that I havenae broken bread for near upon ten hours , which will be worse for the breath than any brose in Scotland . '' `` I will take no advantages , Mr. Stewart , '' replied Robin . `` Eat and drink ; I 'll follow you . '' Each ate a small portion of the ham and drank a glass of the brose to Mrs. Maclaren ; and then after a great number of civilities , Robin took the pipes and played a little spring in a very ranting manner . `` Ay , ye can blow '' said Alan ; and taking the instrument from his rival , he first played the same spring in a manner identical with Robin 's ; and then wandered into variations , which , as he went on , he decorated with a perfect flight of grace-notes , such as pipers love , and call the `` warblers . '' I had been pleased with Robin 's playing , Alan 's ravished me . `` That 's no very bad , Mr. Stewart , '' said the rival , `` but ye show a poor device in your warblers . '' `` Me ! '' cried Alan , the blood starting to his face . `` I give ye the lie . '' `` Do ye own yourself beaten at the pipes , then , '' said Robin , `` that ye seek to change them for the sword ? '' `` And that 's very well said , Mr. Macgregor , '' returned Alan ; `` and in the meantime '' -LRB- laying a strong accent on the word -RRB- `` I take back the lie . I appeal to Duncan . '' `` Indeed , ye need appeal to naebody , '' said Robin . `` Ye 're a far better judge than any Maclaren in Balquhidder : for it 's a God 's truth that you 're a very creditable piper for a Stewart . Hand me the pipes . '' Alan did as he asked ; and Robin proceeded to imitate and correct some part of Alan 's variations , which it seemed that he remembered perfectly . `` Ay , ye have music , '' said Alan , gloomily .
`` And now be the judge yourself , Mr. Stewart , '' said Robin ; and taking up the variations from the beginning , he worked them throughout to so new a purpose , with such ingenuity and sentiment , and with so odd a fancy and so quick a knack in the XXXXX , that I was amazed to hear him .
Alan Athole Ay Duncan Robin confection grace-notes hours naebody piper