Anger is anger, and it's weakness to gainsay it! That is," said
the laird, "when it's just--and this is just. Alexander, my bonny
man--"
"I'm here, father."
"I've been lying here, gaeing up and down in my thoughts, a bairn
again with my grandmither, gaeing up and down the braes and by the
glen. I want to say somewhat to you. When you see an adder set your
heel upon it! When a wolf goes by take your firelock and after him!
When a denier and a cheat is near you tell the world as much and help
to set the snare! Where there are betrayers and persecutors hunt the
wild plant shall make a cup like their ain!" He fell to coughing,
coughing more and more violently.
Strickland rose and came to the bedside, and the two watchers gave him
water and wine to drink, and would have had him, when the fit was
over, cease from all speech. He shook them off.
"Alexander, ye're like me. Ye're mair like me than any think! Where ye
find your Grierson of Lagg, clench with him--clench--Alexander!"
He coughed, lifting himself in their arms. A blood-vessel broke.
Tibbie Ross, answering the calling, hurried in. "Gude with us! it's
the end!" Mrs. Grizel came, wrapped in a great flowered bed-gown. In a
few minutes all was over. Strickland and Alexander laid him straight
that had been the laird.
CHAPTER IX
The month was May.
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