She bowed just her head to his lordship, and motioned him to a chair on her right hand.

He took it with a courteous acknowledgment, of which he would hardly have been capable, had he not guessed on what errand his host was gone: he had no recollection of having given her offence.
"I hope your ladyship is well this morning ?" he said.
"Ye revive an auld custom, my lord," returned his hostess, not without sign of gratification, "-- clean oot o' fashion noo-a-days, excep' amang the semple.

A laird's wife has no richt to be ca'd MY LEDDY,'cep' by auncient custom." "Oh, if you come to that," returned his lordship, "three fourths of the titles in use are merely of courtesy.

Joan there has no more right than yourself to be called MY LADY.

Neither has my son Borland the smallest right to the title; it is mine, and mine only, as much as Mergwain." The old lady turned her head, and fixed a stolen but searching gaze on her guest, and to the end of the meal took every opportunity of regarding him unobserved.