Eger. [With a stifled, filial resentment.] Sir, I am not used to levees:  nor do I know how to dispose of myself,—­nor what to say, or do, in such a situation.

Sir Per. [With a proud, angry resentment.] Zounds! sir, do you nat see what others do? gentle and simple,—­temporal and spiritual,—­lords, members, judges, generals, and bishops,—­aw crowding, bustling, and pushing foremost intill the middle of the circle, and there waiting, watching, and striving to catch a look or a smile fra the great mon,—­ which they meet—­wi’ an amicable reesibility of aspect—­a modest cadence of body, and a conciliating co-operation of the whole mon,—­which expresses an officious promptitude for his service—­and indicates, that they luock upon themselves as the suppliant appendages of his power, and the enlisted Swiss of his poleetical fortune;—­this, sir, is what you ought to do,—­and this, sir, is what I never once omitted for these five and thraty years,—­let who would be minister.

Eger. [Aside.] Contemptible!

Sir Per.  What is that you mutter, sir?

Eger.  Only a slight reflection, sir, not relative to you.

Sir Per.  Sir, your absenting yourself fra the levee at this juncture is suspeecious; it is looked upon as a kind of disaffection,—­and aw your countrymen are highly offended at your conduct,——­for, sir, they do not look upon you as a friend or a well-wisher either to Scotland or Scotchmen.

Eger. [With a quick warmth.] Then, sir, they wrong me, I assure you,—­ but pray, sir, in what particular can I be charged—­either with coldness or offence to my country?

Sir Per.  Why, sir, ever since your mother’s uncle, Sir Stanly Egerton, left you this three thousand pounds a year, and that you have, in compliance with his will, taken up the name of Egerton, they think you are grown proud;—­that you have estranged yourself fra the Macsycophants—­have associated with your mother’s family—­with the opposeetion, and with those who do not wish well till Scotland;——­besides, sir, the other day, in a conversation at dinner at your cousin Campbel M’Kenzie’s, before a whole table-full of your ain relations, did not you publicly wish a total extinguishment of aw party, and of aw national distinctions whatever, relative to the three kingdoms?—­[With great anger.] And you blockhead—­ was that a prudent wish before so many of your ain countrymen?—­or was it a filial language to hold before me?

Eger.  Sir, with your pardon, I cannot think it unfilial or imprudent. [With a most patriotic warmth.] I own I do wish—­most ardently wish for a total extinction of all party:  particularly—­that those of English, Irish, and Scotch might never more be brought into contest or competition, unless, like loving brothers, in generous emulation, for one common cause.

Sir Per.  How, sir! do you persist? what!—­would you banish aw party, and aw distinction between English, Irish, and your ain countrymen?