thocht it unco fun. They were maist killed wi' lauchin'. But the
last time he did it, the puir auld man hostit (coughed) sair
efterhin, and had to gang and lie doon. He didna live lang efter
that. But it wasna that 'at killed him, ye ken.'

'But hoo cam he to play the pipes?'

'He likit the pipes. And yer grandfather, he tuik to the fiddle.'

'But what for did they ca' him the blin' piper o' Portcloddie?'

'Because he turned blin' lang afore his en' cam, and there was
naething ither he cud do. And he wad aye mak an honest baubee whan
he cud; for siller was fell scarce at that time o' day amo' the
Falconers. Sae he gaed throu the toon at five o'clock ilka mornin'
playin' his pipes, to lat them 'at war up ken they war up in time,
and them 'at warna, that it was time to rise. And syne he played
them again aboot aucht o'clock at nicht, to lat them ken 'at it was
time for dacent fowk to gang to their beds. Ye see, there wasna sae
mony clocks and watches by half than as there is noo.'

'Was he a guid piper, grannie?'

'What for speir ye that?'

'Because I tauld that sunk, Lumley--'

'Ca' naebody names, Robert. But what richt had ye to be speikin' to
a man like that?'