`` Eat and drink ; I 'll follow you . '' Each ate a small portion of the ham and drank a glass of the brose to Mrs. Maclaren ; and then after a great number of civilities , Robin took the pipes and played a little spring in a very ranting manner . `` Ay , ye can blow '' said Alan ; and taking the instrument from his rival , he first played the same spring in a manner identical with Robin 's ; and then wandered into variations , which , as he went on , he decorated with a perfect flight of grace-notes , such as pipers love , and call the `` warblers . '' I had been pleased with Robin 's playing , Alan 's ravished me . `` That 's no very bad , Mr. Stewart , '' said the rival , `` but ye show a poor device in your warblers . '' `` Me ! '' cried Alan , the blood starting to his face . `` I give ye the lie . '' `` Do ye own yourself beaten at the pipes , then , '' said Robin , `` that ye seek to change them for the sword ? '' `` And that 's very well said , Mr. Macgregor , '' returned Alan ; `` and in the meantime '' -LRB- laying a strong accent on the word -RRB- `` I take back the lie . I appeal to Duncan . '' `` Indeed , ye need appeal to naebody , '' said Robin . `` Ye 're a far better judge than any Maclaren in Balquhidder : for it 's a God 's truth that you 're a very creditable piper for a Stewart . Hand me the pipes . '' Alan did as he asked ; and Robin proceeded to imitate and correct some part of Alan 's variations , which it seemed that he remembered perfectly . `` Ay , ye have music , '' said Alan , gloomily . `` And now be the judge yourself , Mr. Stewart , '' said Robin ; and taking up the variations from the beginning , he worked them throughout to so new a purpose , with such ingenuity and sentiment , and with so odd a fancy and so quick a knack in the grace-notes , that I was amazed to hear him . As for Alan , his face grew dark and hot , and he sat and gnawed his fingers , like a man under some deep affront . `` Enough ! '' he cried .
`` Ye can XXXXX the pipes -- make the most of that . ''
're 's Hand blow follow need returned said show take