Angry as I was at these words , and ashamed of my own ignorance , I could scarce keep from smiling that a man who was under the lash of the law -LRB- and was indeed hanged some three years later -RRB- should be so nice as to the descent of his acquaintances . Just in the door , he met Alan coming in ; and the two drew back and looked at each other like strange dogs . They were neither of them big men , but they seemed fairly to swell out with pride . Each wore a sword , and by a movement of his haunch , thrust clear the hilt of it , so that it might be the more readily grasped and the blade drawn . `` Mr. Stewart , I am thinking , '' says Robin . `` Troth , Mr. Macgregor , it 's not a name to be ashamed of , '' answered Alan . `` I did not know ye were in my country , sir , '' says Robin . `` It sticks in my mind that I am in the country of my friends the Maclarens , '' says Alan . `` That 's a kittle point , '' returned the other . `` There may be two words to say to that . But I think I will have heard that you are a man of your sword ? '' `` Unless ye were born deaf , Mr. Macgregor , ye will have heard a good deal more than that , '' says Alan . `` I am not the only man that can draw steel in Appin ; and when my kinsman and captain , Ardshiel , had a talk with a gentleman of your name , not so many years back , I could never hear that the Macgregor had the best of it . '' `` Do ye mean my father , sir ? '' says Robin . `` Well , I wouldnae wonder , '' said Alan . `` The gentleman I have in my mind had the ill-taste to clap Campbell to his name . '' `` My father was an old man , '' returned Robin . `` The match was unequal . You and me would make a better pair , sir . ''
`` I was thinking that , '' said XXXXX .
Alan Ardshiel Campbell Macgregor Stewart Troth acquaintances haunch kinsman years