he asked , glancing at about the level of my knee . `` Ye can eat that drop parritch ? '' I said I feared it was his own supper . `` O , '' said he , `` I can do fine wanting it . I 'll take the ale , though , for it slockens -LRB- moistens -RRB- my cough . '' He drank the cup about half out , still keeping an eye upon me as he drank ; and then suddenly held out his hand . `` Let 's see the letter , '' said he . I told him the letter was for Mr. Balfour ; not for him . `` And who do ye think I am ? '' says he . `` Give me Alexander 's letter . '' `` You know my father 's name ? '' `` It would be strange if I didnae , '' he returned , `` for he was my born brother ; and little as ye seem to like either me or my house , or my good parritch , I 'm your born uncle , Davie , my man , and you my born nephew . So give us the letter , and sit down and fill your kyte . '' If I had been some years younger , what with shame , weariness , and disappointment , I believe I had burst into tears . As it was , I could find no words , neither black nor white , but handed him the letter , and sat down to the porridge with as little appetite for meat as ever a young man had . Meanwhile , my uncle , stooping over the fire , turned the letter over and over in his hands . `` Do ye ken what 's in it ? '' he asked , suddenly . `` You see for yourself , sir , '' said I , `` that the seal has not been broken . ''
`` Ay , '' XXXXX he , `` but what brought you here ? ''
Do asked didnae eat fill find returned said sit stooping