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pains had been bestowed - "Why yes,"
he said in a hesitating manner, "it is
very clever, - very well done - can't find
fault; but it wants something; it wants -
it wants, damn me - it wants that" -
throwing his hand over his heart and
snapping his fingers."

And so may I say your
book has that, and a' that.

I was interested to see
the reference to Refutation and Humbug,
which recalled the title of a small book, in
black binding with the words on the back

Refutation
Reply and
Humbug

I saw the book on a grand-uncles bookshelf
in the late 'sixties. I was only 8 or 9 years
old, but the titles puzzled my small brain
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and I opened the book and found it had
to do with Sir Walter and the Ballantynes.
I have never seen, or heard of the book
since, and would not open it if came
my way. By the time I had read "Ivanhoe"
and Sir Walter had a place in my heart
and mind that has grown with the years.
Mr Quiller Couch has words to the
effect that take Scott where you will, the
man is gold - pure gold.

My grandfather liked to tell
me of the False Alarm and how a trooper
rode up Ettrick giving a bugle call at
each farm steading. A herd told my
grandfather that he was awakened by the
bugle and thought it was the Last Day. "And
what did you do," asked my grandfather. "I lay
still," was the reply. Our herd, as a sound
strategist, awaited developments.

My grandfather had a sister
living with him. Rab was her doctor and
he said to my mother "Her voice is like