The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

430 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
and in good order. Fields were therefore difficult to be obtained, and only
upon high terms. This necessity occasioned a temporary separation betwixt
the two friends, who went to bargain, each as he could, for the separate
accommodation of his herd. Unhappily it chanced that both of them, unknown to each other, thought of bargaining for the ground they wanted on
the property of a country gentleman of some fortune, whose estate lay in
the neighbourhood. The English drover applied to the bailiff on the property, who was known to him. It chanced that the Cumbrian Squire, who
had entertained some suspicions of his manager's honesty, was taking occasional measures to ascertain how far they were well founded, and had desired that any inquiries about his enclosures, with a view to occupy them
for a temporary purpose, should be referred to himself. As, however, Mr.
Ireby had gone the day before upon a journey of some miles' distance to
the northward, the bailiff chose to consider the check upon his full powers
as for the time removed, and concluded that he should best consult his
master's interest, and perhaps his own, in making an agreement with Harry
Wakefield. Meanwhile, ignorant of what his companion was doing, Robin
Oig, on his side, chanced to be overtaken by a good-looking smart little
man upon a pony, most knowingly hogged and cropped, as was then the
fashion, the rider wearing tight leather breeches, and long-necked bright
spurs. This cavalier asked one or two pertinent questions about markets
and the price of stock. So Robin, seeing him a well-judging civil gentleman, took the freedom to ask him whether he could let him know if there
was any grass-land to be let in that neighbourhood, for the temporary accommodation of his drove. He could not have put the question to more willing
ears. The gentleman of the buckskin was the proprietor, with whose bailiff
Harry Wakefield had dealt, or was in the act of dealing.
"Thou art in good luck, my canny Scot," said Mr. Ireby, " to have spoken
to me, for I see thy cattle have done their day's work, and I have at my disposal the only field within three miles that is to be let in these parts."
" The drove can pe gang two, three, four miles very pratty weel indeed,"
said the cautious Highlander; "but what would his honour be axing for
the peasts pe the head, if she was to tak the park for twa or three days?"
"We won't differ, Sawney, if you let me have six stots for winterers, in
the way of reason."
"And which peasts wad your honour pe for having?"
"Why-let me see-the two black-the dun one-yon doddy-him with
the twisted horn-the brocket-How much by the head?"
"Ah," said Robin, "your honour is a shudge-a real shudge-I couldna
have set off the pest six peasts petter mysell, me that ken them as if they
were my pairns, puir things."
"Well, how much per head, Sawney?" continued Mr. Ireby.
" It was high markets at Doune and Falkirk," answered Robin.
And thus the conversation proceeded, until they had agreed on the prix
juste for the bullocks, the Squire throwing in the temporary accommodation
of the enclosure for the cattle into the boot, and Robin making, as he
thought, a very good bargain, provided the grass was but tolerable. The
squire walked his pony alongside of the drove, partly to show him the way,
and see him put into possession of the field, and partly to learn the latest
news of the northern markets.
They arrived at the field, and the pasture seemed excellent. But what
was their surprise when they saw the bailiff quietly inducting the cattle of
Harry Wakefield into the grassy Goshen which had just been assigned to
those of Robin Oig M'Combich by the proprietor himself! Squire Ireby
set spurs to his horse, dashed up to his servant, and, learning what had
passed between the parties, briefly informed the English drover that his
bailiff had let the ground without his authority, and that he might seek
grass for his cattle wherever he would, since he was to get none there. At