"The deil's in the body for strength and bitterness!" were the first
words that escaped him, which he followed up with an apology for the
accident that had given rise to their disagreement. "I am no justifying
Killbuck a'thegither neither, and I am sure it is as vexing to me as to
you, Elshie, that the mischance should hae happened; but I'll send you
twa goats and twa fat gimmers, man, to make a' straight again. A wise
man like you shouldna bear malice against a poor dumb thing; ye see that
a goat's like first-cousin to a deer, sae he acted but according to his
nature after a'. Had it been a pet-lamb, there wad hae been mair to be
said. Ye suld keep sheep, Elshie, and no goats, where there's sae mony
deerhounds about--but I'll send ye baith."
"Wretch!" said the Hermit, "your cruelty has destroyed one of the only
creatures in existence that would look on me with kindness!"
"Dear Elshie," answered Hobbie, "I'm wae ye suld hae cause to say sae;
I'm sure it wasna wi' my will. And yet, it's true, I should hae minded
your goats, and coupled up the dogs.
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