The pride of life seemed to mount into my brain at the sight of the red coats and the hearing of that merry music . A little farther on , and I was told I was in Cramond parish , and began to substitute in my inquiries the name of the house of Shaws . It was a word that seemed to surprise those of whom I sought my way . At first I thought the plainness of my appearance , in my country habit , and that all dusty from the road , consorted ill with the greatness of the place to which I was bound . But after two , or maybe three , had given me the same look and the same answer , I began to take it in my head there was something strange about the Shaws itself . The better to set this fear at rest , I changed the form of my inquiries ; and spying an honest fellow coming along a lane on the shaft of his cart , I asked him if he had ever heard tell of a house they called the house of Shaws . He stopped his cart and looked at me , like the others . `` Ay '' said he . `` What for ? '' `` It 's a great house ? '' I asked . `` Doubtless , '' says he . `` The house is a big , muckle house . '' `` Ay , '' said I , `` but the folk that are in it ? '' `` Folk ? '' cried he . `` Are ye daft ? There 's nae folk there -- to call folk . '' `` What ? '' say I ; `` not Mr. Ebenezer ? ''
`` Ou , ay '' XXXXX the man ; `` there 's the laird , to be sure , if it 's him you 're wanting .
asked changed consorted looked said says spying stopped thought told