`` 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 . Alan 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 . There we all looked upon him for a while , exulting greatly in our success , but yet with a sort of pity for the man 's shame . `` Come , come , Mr. Ebenezer , '' said the lawyer , `` you must not be down-hearted , for I promise you we shall make easy terms . In the meanwhile give us the cellar key , and Torrance shall draw us a bottle of your father 's wine in honour of the event . '' Then , turning to me and taking me by the hand , `` Mr. David , '' says he , `` I wish you all joy in your good fortune , which I believe to be deserved . '' And then to Alan , with a spice of drollery , `` Mr. Thomson , I pay you my compliment ; it was most artfully conducted ; but in one point you somewhat outran my comprehension . Do I understand your name to be James ? or Charles ? or is it George , perhaps ? '' `` And why should it be any of the three , sir ? '' quoth Alan , drawing himself up , like one who smelt an offence . `` Only , sir , that you mentioned a king 's name , '' replied Rankeillor ; `` and as there has never yet been a King Thomson , or his fame at least has never come my way , I judged you must refer to that you had in baptism . '' This was just the stab that Alan would feel keenest , and I am free to confess he took it very ill . Not a word would he answer , but stepped off to the far end of the kitchen , and sat down and sulked ; and it was not till I stepped after him , and gave him my hand , and thanked him by title as the chief spring of my success , that he began to smile a bit , and was at last prevailed upon to join our party . By that time we had the fire lighted , and a bottle of wine uncorked ; a good supper came out of the basket , to which Torrance and I and Alan set ourselves down ; while the lawyer and my uncle passed into the next chamber to consult . They stayed there closeted about an hour ; at the end of which period they had come to a good understanding , and my uncle and I set our hands to the agreement in a formal manner .
By the terms of this , my uncle bound himself to satisfy XXXXX as to his intromissions , and to pay me two clear thirds of the yearly income of Shaws .
Alan David Ebenezer James Rankeillor Thomson Torrance blunderbuss hour whither