CHAPTEK XII » 



REMINISCENCES 



Now I want to say something about my grandfather, 

 Sir Hector Mackenzie, the fourth baronet, generally 

 spoken of among Highlanders as An tighearna Storack 

 (the buck-toothed laird) . My uncle writes : 



" I always think of my father as well on in life, 

 perhaps because we never saw him excited about any- 

 thing, but always going about quietly, as if thinking 

 deeply. If a dog pointed at a covey, he of course 

 shot a bird with each barrel, but he never showed a 

 trace of anxiety as to whether we picked them up or not, 

 or where the other birds went. He was as quiet and 

 composed as if it were none of his business, but only 

 ours. I never heard of his having gone deer-stalking 

 or taken part in any exciting work, but, though so 

 quiet, he was always ready for a * twa-handed crack,' 

 and was bright and cheery about past, present and 

 future. He enjoyed his meals and was a good hand at 

 breakfast, being especially fond of smoked salmon and 

 venison collops, at which none alive could match Kate 

 Archy. If a dish met him with pepper in it, which he 

 detested, he would quietly give it up, saying, perhaps, 

 * I wish pepper was a guinea an ounce,' or ' The Lord 

 sent us meat; we know where the cooks come from.* 



On the sideboard there always stood before breakfast 



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