"I must have misunderstood him, for one day, when he was
talking with me, he said that it was a trouble to him that he had no
sons."
"Nor has he," Oswald said; "luckily for me, who am but a nephew."
"He is a good customer," the landlord went on, "and good company, too;
but he cares not for French wines, and does not trouble my cellarer,
much."
"He is a careful man," Oswald said, with a smile; "and though he is a
good trencherman, he does not waste his money on such matters. However,
he lets me have a freer hand than he uses himself; and asks not, when I
return, for a close account of my outgoings.
"What do they say, here, as to the chances of another war with
England?"
"I fear the worst," the landlord replied. "These wars are ruin to us,
and we have had the English at the gates of Dunbar over many times,
already; and the town sacked, and burnt over our heads, more than once.
Though I do not say that it might not have been worse, for our earls
have ever stood aloof, as much as possible, and have often inclined
towards the English side. Still, even then it is bad enough, for the
whole country, from Berwick, has often been wasted to check the
progress of the armies, and our trade well-nigh ruined.
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