24                                      KIDNAPPED.
It seemed to me (too soon, I daresay) that I was
getting the upper hand of my uncle ; and I began next
to say that I must have the bed and bedclothes aired
and put to sun-dry; for nothing would make me sleep
in such a pickle.
"Is this my house or yours?" said he, in his keen
voice, and then all of a sudden broke off. "Na, na,"
said he, "I didnae mean that. What's mine is yours,
Davie, my man, and what's yours is mine. Blood's
thicker than water; and there's naebody but you and
me that ought the name." And then on he rambled
about the family, and its ancient greatness, and his
father that began to enlarge the house, and himself that
stopped the building as a sinful waste; and this put it
in my head to give him Jennet Clouston's message.
"The limmer!" he cried. "Twelve hunner and
fifteen-that's every day since I had the limmer row-
pit!* Dod, David, I'll have her roasted on red peats
before I'm by with it! A witch-a proclaimed witch!
I'll aff and see the session clerk."
And with that he opened a chest, and got out a very
old and well-preserved blue coat and waistcoat, and a
good enough beaver hat, both without lace. These he
threw on anyway, and taking a staff from the cupboard,
locked all up again, and was for setting out, when a
thought arrested him.
"I cannae leave you by yoursel' in the house," said
he. " I'll have to lock you out."
* Sold up.