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that you who know ſo many things, ſhould not know the difference between an abſolute and conditional promiſe; I did indeed, at the time you mention, blame Mr. Paton, for I thought him juſtly blameable, in hindering the lad to meet with you, and if I had been in his place, I would have acted quite the reverſe; but I did never ſay, that if you would come to Innerwick and employ me, that I would go all the way to Dumfries on ſuch an ertand, that is what never ſo much as entered into my thoughts. He anſwered, what were your thoughts, I don't pretend to know, but I can depend on my information that theſe were your words; but I ſee you are in ſome diſorder, I will wait upon you when you have more preſence of mind.
By this time we were at James Dickſon's incloſure below the church-yard; and when I was recollecting in my mind if ever I had ſpoken theſe words he alledged, he broke off from me, through the church-yard, with greater violence, than ever any man on horſe-back was capable of, with ſuch a ſinging and buzzing noiſe, as put me in greater diſorder than I was in all the time I was with him. I went to my houſe, and my wife obſerved more than ordinary paleneſs in my countenance, and would alledge that ſomething ailed me. I called for a dram, and told her I was a little uneaſy. After I found myſelf a little refreſhed, I went to my cloſet to meditate upon the moſt aſtoniſhing adventure of my whole life
