'And whase was that blue coat wi' the bonny gowd buttons upo' 't?'
asked Robert, who thought he had discovered a new approach to an
impregnable hold, which he would gladly storm if he could.

'Lat the coat sit. What has that to do wi' the kilt? A blue coat
and a tartan kilt gang na weel thegither.'

'Excep' in an auld press whaur naebody sees them. Ye wadna care,
grannie, wad ye, gin I was to cut aff the bonnie buttons?'

'Dinna lay a finger upo' them. Ye wad be gaein' playin' at pitch
and toss or ither sic ploys wi' them. Na, na, lat them sit.'

'I wad only niffer them for bools (exchange them for marbles).'

'I daur ye to touch the coat or onything 'ither that's i' that
press.'

'Weel, weel, grannie. I s' gang and get my lessons for the morn.'

'It's time, laddie. Ye hae been jabberin' ower muckle. Tell Betty
to come and tak' awa' the tay-things.'

Robert went to the kitchen, got a couple of hot potatoes and a
candle, and carried them up-stairs to Shargar, who was fast asleep.
But the moment the light shone upon his face, he started up, with
his eyes, if not his senses, wide awake.

'It wasna me, mither! I tell ye it wasna me!'