Part 2 (1/2)
”Oh, ay! I'm a' that Come round and let me see ye”
I obeyed, and he seemed satisfied with his inspection
”Sit doon,--oot o' the smoke,” he said
I did so
”You are Scotch?” I ventured
”Ay! From Perth, awa'
”A Scotch tinker?”
”Just that; a tinker from Perth, and my name's Robertson I'm a Struan, ye ken The Struans,--the real Struans,--are a' tinkers or pipers In oor family, my elder brother fell heir toBut we're joint heirs to my father's fondness for a dram Ye havena a wee drop on ye?”
”Not a drop,” I remarked
”That's a disappointment I was kind o' feart ye wouldna, when I asked ye”
”How so?”
”Oh! ye don't look like a man that wasted your substance More like a seller o' Bibles, or hed at the queer coy, red eyebrows
”Have a bite o' breakfast wi' me I like to crack to soestion”
”No, thank you,” I said ”I have breakfasted already”
”It's good uarantee it, for it was runnin' half an hour ago Try a leg”
I refused, but, as he seemed crestfallen, I took the drumstick in my hand and ate the ood
”What makes ye smile?” asked my tattered companion ”Do ye no' like the taste o' it?”
”Oh! the rabbit is all right,” I said, ”but I was just thinking that had it lived its children ed to a brother of mine some day”
”How's that? Is he a keeper? Od sake!” he went on, scratching his head, as it see hoose up there?”
”I live there,” said I
He leaned over to , man,--have it;--dod!
it's your ain, anyway”
”I haven't finished the first yet Go ahead yourself”
He ate slowly, eying h the smoke