IN   BALQUIDDER.                              257
reminding them the Wife was out of Athole and had a
name far and wide for her skill in that confection. But
Robin put aside these hospitalities as bad for the breath.
"I would have ye to remark, sir," said Alan, "that
I havenae broken bread for near upon ten hours, which
will be worse for the breath than any brose in Scotland,"
"I will take no advantages, Mr. Stewart," replied
Robin. "Eat and drink; I'll follow you."
Each ate a small portion of the ham and drank a
glass of the brose to Mrs. Maclaren; and then after a
great number of civilities, Robin took the pipes and
played a little spring in a very ranting manner.
"Ay, ye can blow," said Alan; and taking the in-
strument from his rival, he first played the same spring
in a manner identical with Robin's; and then wandered
into variations, which, as he went on, he decorated with
a perfect flight of grace-notes, such as pipers love, and
call the "warblers."
I had been pleased with Robin's playing, Alan's
ravished me.
"That's no very bad, Mr. Stewart," said the rival,
"but ye show a poor device in your warblers."
"Me! " cried Alan, the blood starting to his face.
"I give ye the lie."
"Do ye own yourself beaten at the pipes, then,"
said Robin, "that ye seek to change them for the
sword? "
"And that's very well said, Mr. Macgregor," re-
turned Alan; "and in the meantime" (laying a strong
R