THE AUTHOR'S LAST VISIT. 443 



On these occasions, he confounded time, place, and circum- 

 stances. For instance, when Mr. Gillan and I left the first 

 day, he forgot, in one of these collapses, who we were, and, 

 confusing us with ever-present memories of Charles Black, 

 who lived at the mouth of the Nith, he suddenly asked 

 " Whar' are yon men ? They'll hae had to cross the 

 Solway ! " In these states of excessive weakness, his tem- 

 per was much affected ; for temper is the first and surest 

 indicator of mental and physical condition in all of us, even 

 in the healthiest. He would then become very cross and 

 difficult to deal with, speaking sharply, refusing assistance 

 when most necessary, and exhibiting a general spirit of 

 rebellion, while it lasted. But the temper passed with the 

 weakness that caused it, and he soon again became bright, 

 hopeful and repentant. As Mrs. Allanach put it, " he was 

 sune up and sune ower" at these seasons. When they 

 came on, her management of him was that of a skilled 

 tactician, combining firmness and kindliness, as in the case 

 of a sick child. She would talk to him quietly and cheer- 

 fully, express surprise when repulsed, clap him softly like 

 an infant, and say, " Noo, noo ! Ye're nae John ava the 

 day ; nae half a John," and use like soothing, bantering, 

 and cheering words. Her attentions would be at first 

 repelled ; but he would by-and-by smile, return the clap- 

 ping, and express sorrow, excusing himself by saying, 

 " Fowk wears oot," and asking her never to mind him. 



But it was no wonder, poor old body, that he became 

 cross and moody, for his weakness at times was very great ; 

 while the old strong will, hard to subdue and never 

 altogether overcome, rebelled against this unusual and 

 depressing debility. The fretfulness exhibited was simply 



