It was the air made in mockery of General Cope's defeat at Preston Pans: "Hey, Johnnie Cope, are ye waukin' yet?
And are your drums a-beatin' yet ?" And it came in my mind that Alan, on the day of that battle, had been engaged upon the royal side.
"Why do ye take that air, Mr.Stewart ?" said I."Is that to remind me you have been beaten on both sides ?" The air stopped on Alan's lips.

"David!" said he.
"But it's time these manners ceased," I continued; "and I mean you shall henceforth speak civilly of my King and my good friends the Campbells." "I am a Stewart--" began Alan.
"O!" says I, "I ken ye bear a king's name.

But you are to remember, since I have been in the Highlands, I have seen a good many of those that bear it; and the best I can say of them is this, that they would be none the worse of washing." "Do you know that you insult me ?" said Alan, very low.
"I am sorry for that," said I, "for I am not done; and if you distaste the sermon, I doubt the pirliecue* will please you as little.

You have been chased in the field by the grown men of my party; it seems a poor kind of pleasure to out-face a boy.

Both the Campbells and the Whigs have beaten you; you have run before them like a hare.