human
You come, I suppose, by the orders of your mistress, to visit Lord Evandale?--Tell me what she desires; her orders shall be my law.
gpt
Your honour is sae auld a friend, I must needs trust to you, and tell the truth.
human
Be assured, Jenny, said Morton, observing that she hesitated,
gpt
Weel, then, ye maun ken we're starving, as I said before, and have been mair days than ane; and the Major has sworn that he expects relief daily, and that he will not gie ower the house to the enemy till we have eaten up his auld boots,--and they are unco thick in the soles, as ye may weel mind, forby being teugh in the upper-leather. The dragoons, again, they think they will be forced to gie up at last, and they canna bide hunger weel, after the life they led at free quarters for this while bypast; and since Lord Evandale's taen, there's nae guiding them; and Inglis says he'll gie up the garrison to the whigs, and the Major and the leddies into the bargain, if they will but let the troopers gang free themsells.
human
Scoundrels! said Morton;
gpt
They are fear'd for denial o' quarter to themsells, having dune sae muckle mischief through the country; and Burley has hanged ane or twa o' them already--sae they want to draw their ain necks out o' the collar at hazard o' honest folk's.
human
And you were sent, continued Morton,
gpt
Just e'en sae, said Jenny;
human
Tam Halliday took the rue, and tauld me a' about it, and gat me out o' the Castle to tell Lord Evandale, if possibly I could win at him.
gpt
But how can he help you? said Morton;
human
Well-a-day, ay, answered the afflicted damsel;
gpt
Or, maybe, said Morton,
human
If it were sae, answered Jenny with spirit,
gpt
True, Jenny, replied Morton,
human
I were most ungrateful to forget it. But here comes Cuddie with refreshments--I will go and do your errand to Lord Evandale, while you take some food and wine.
gpt
It willna be amiss ye should ken, said Cuddie to his master,
human
And an unco fright ye gae me when ye cam ahint and took a grip o' me, said Jenny, giving him a sly twitch with her finger and her thumb--