OCTOBER 277 



auld, sae much sae that I thocht shame o' 

 mysel', and was inclined to sue for peace ; 

 and he had long side- whiskers, and spats, 

 and a grey frock-coat ; he looked, and 

 spoke, like a draper. But it wasna' behind 

 a counter he had been reared. It was 

 nae fecht at a' just doon and up, doon 

 and up. Nae suner had I found my feet 

 than I found the floor. And he just 

 smilin' and polite as a shop- walker a' the 

 time. Aye : he was a fearsome Colonel ! 

 But you and I are a match, and the luck 

 may be wi' you if we start afresh." 



Though these remarks, as they pro- 

 ceeded, became manifestly heartfelt, Peter, 

 I knew, had set out on them with intent to 

 soften Bismarck's vexation. In this he 

 was successful. When we were all seated 

 round the fire again, Bismarck was in 

 excellent spirits. He wanted to with- 

 draw the unfortunate word, since now, 

 having gone through the ordeal of battle 

 on account of it, he could do so without 

 shame ; but our new friend would not 

 hear of this. 



