Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 26, 2025
They have been hard at work most of the day, and they look upon the sociable evening hours as a time to be given up to what the Scotch call "daffing"; that is to say, a sort of nimble interchange of humorous or interesting gossip; a man who pursues a subject intently is apt to be thought a bore.
"It was a dog barking at somebody that's stoning it. I ken that sound, Hendry Munn." "May I die the death, Tammas Whamond, if a great drap o' rain didna strike me the now, and I swear it was warm. I'm for running hame." "I'm for seeing who drove awa that dog. Come back wi' me, Hendry." "I winna. There's no a soul on the hill but you and me and thae daffing and drinking gypsies.
It's an old story, and in a way it was only yesterday: sometimes I think it must be only a dream. But, dream or waking, I can see plainly my brother Dugald there, home on leave, make visitation to Glen Shira. Miss Mary, she would be daffing with him on his return, with a 'How's her leddyship to-day, Dugald? and he would be in a pleasant vexation at this guessing of what he thought his secret.
He must have had a mind full of variety and wide human sympathy almost Shakspearian, who could step from the musings of Windsor and the beautiful heroine, all romance and ethereal splendour, to the lasses in their gay kirtles, and Hob and Raaf with their rustic "daffing," as true to the life as the Ayrshire clowns of Burns, and all the clumsy yet genial gambols of the village festival.
They thought I was daffing when I said that; but when they came to understand that it was the real truth, they were as proud and as pleased as if I had told them that she had married the laird. Indeed, poor Jim, with his hard drinking and his fighting, had not a very bright name on the country-side, and my mother had often said that no good could come of such a match.
It made no change in him; and it was in his old spirit of mockery and daffing that he began the interview. "A braw good day to ye again, Mr. Drummond," said he. "What'll yon business of yours be just about?" "Why, the thing being private, and rather of a long story," says James, "I think it will keep very well till we have eaten." "I'm none so sure of that," said Alan.
Surely this is not a time to hide hersell frae me there's nae time for daffing now."
The good host seemed also to have some mental point to discuss, for he answered not instantly, debating perhaps whether his conscience would bear a double charge for the same guests. Apparently his conscience replied in the negative, though not without hesitation, for he at length replied "It's daffing to lee; it winna deny that the lawing is clean paid.
'Weel, what about her? what do I ken? cries Haddo. 'M'Brair, ye daft auld wife, I tell ye as true's truth, I never meddled her. It was just daffing, I tell ye: daffing, and nae mair: a piece of fun, like! I'm no denying but what I'm fond of fun, sma' blame to me! But for onything sarious hout, man, it might come to a deposeetion! I'll sweir it to ye. Where's a Bible, till you hear me sweir?
He was somewhat pleased, but not at all abashed, by this attention; and one night, in the midst of his famous performance of 'Billy Keogh, I saw him spin half round in a pirouette and throw an audacious wink to an old gentleman above. This was the more characteristic, as, for all his daffing, he was a modest and very polite little fellow among ourselves.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking