“But what was the insult?  Was Lauchlan dismissed?” “Na, faags!  It was waur than that.  Dominie, you’re dull in the uptake compared to Elspeth.  I hadna telled her half the story afore she jaloused the rest.  However, to begin again; there’s great feasting and rejoicings gaen on at the Spittal the now, and also a banquet, which the post says is twa dinners in one.  Weel, there’s a curran Ogilvys among the guests, and it was them that egged on her little leddyship to make the daring proposal to the earl.  What was the proposal?  It was no less than that the twa pipers should be ordered to play ‘The Bonny House o’ Airlie.’  Dominie, I wonder you can tak it so calm when you ken that’s the Ogilvy’s sang, and that it’s aimed at the clan o’ Campbell.”

“Pooh!” I said.  “The Ogilvys and the Campbells used to be mortal enemies, but the feud has been long forgotten.”

“Ay, I’ve heard tell,” Waster Lunny said sceptically, “that Airlie and Argyle shakes hands now like Christians; but I’m thinking that’s just afore the Queen.  Dinna speak now, for I’m in the thick o’t.  Her little leddyship was all hinging in gold and jewels, the which winna be her ain till the morn; and she leans ower to the earl and whispers to him to get the pipers to play ’The Bonny House.’  He wasna willing, for says he, ’There’s Ogilvys at the table, and ane o’ the pipers is a Campbell, and we’ll better let sleeping dogs lie.’  However, the Ogilvys lauched at his caution; and he was so infatuated wi’ her little leddyship that he gae in, and he cried out to the pipers to strike up ‘The Bonny House.’”

Waster Lunny pulled his chair nearer me and rested his hand on my knees.

“Dominie,” he said in a voice that fell now and again into a whisper, “them looking on swears that when Lauchlan Campbell heard these monstrous orders his face became ugly and black, so that they kent in a jiffy what he would do.  It’s said a’ body jumped back frae him in a sudden dread, except poor Angus, the other piper, wha was busy tuning up for ‘The Bonny House.’  Weel, Angus had got no farther in the tune than the first skirl when Lauchlan louped at him, and ripped up the startled crittur’s pipes wi’ his dirk.  The pipes gae a roar o’ agony like a stuck swine, and fell gasping on the floor.  What happened next was that Lauchlan wi’ his dirk handy for onybody that micht try to stop him, marched once round the table, playing ‘The Campbells are Coming,’ and then straucht out o’ the Spittal, his chest far afore him, and his head so weel back that he could see what was going on ahint.  Frae the Spittal to here he never stopped that fearsome tune, and I’se warrant he’s blawing away at it at this moment through the streets o’ Thrums.”

Waster Lunny was not in his usual spirits, or he would have repeated his story before he left me, for he had usually as much difficulty in coming to an end as in finding a beginning.  The drought was to him as serious a matter as death in the house, and as little to be forgotten for a lengthened period.