“The English make bonny speeches, but they run to an awful wee man. And the Kerrs . . . there’s something unchancy about a left-handed race.’ ‘I’m right-handed,’ offered Will Scott. ‘Aye.’ ‘And six foot three in my hose.’ ‘Uh-huh. I didna say I wanted to run up a beanpole. Nor have I heard hide nor hair of a speech, bonny or otherwise.’ ‘I’m saving it,’ he said austerely, ‘till I’ve the theme for it.’ ‘Oh!’ said Grizel Beaton (Younger) of Buccleuch, with a squeal of delight. ‘Will Scott! Are we having our first married set-to?”
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Quote Analysis from Dorothy Dunnett
In this excerpt, we see interactions rich with subtext and character dynamics, showcasing the interplay between perception, identity, and societal expectations. The dialogue reveals much about the characters involved and their relationships to one another and their culture.
The opening line about the "English" and the "Kerrs" highlights a sense of skepticism and cultural critique. It implies that while the English may be eloquent ("bonny speeches"), there are undertones of distrust towards their sincerity or substance. The term "awful wee man" could denote not just physicality but also a moral or emotional diminutiveness, contrasting physical stature with the weight of character.
Will Scott's interruption with “I’m right-handed” serves as a defense of his identity and possibly an assertion of his capability, despite the previous remark about left-handed individuals being “unchancy.” This reinforces his desire to stand out and assert his strengths, both physically (his height) and in character.
Grizel Beaton’s reaction brings an added layer of tension and humor to the exchange. Her excitement at the prospect of a "married set-to" hints at playful conflict as a dynamic in relationships, suggesting that such disagreements can be both intimate and vital to relational chemistry.
The conversation cleverly juxtaposes themes of identity and conversation, examining how people define each other and themselves in social contexts. The playful banter and underlying tensions illustrate the complexities of their connections, reflecting broader societal norms around masculinity, partnerships, and the roles individuals play within these frameworks. This excerpt thus serves as a microcosm of the characters’ lives and cultural nuances, revealing deeper truths about human interaction.
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“There’s some of them’ll be nursing a guid scratch or two on their hinder-ends this night.… Man, it was a rout.’ ‘I imagine,’ said Piero Strozzi, his dark face impassive, ‘that my lord Grey’s army would not relish their defeat either.’ ‘Oh, aye, the English,’ said Buccleuch absently. ‘We are, after all, at war with them and not with the Kerrs,’ the Marshal said mildly.”
“Will Scott grinned. Grizel Beaton had slapped his face four times, and apart from these four small misjudgements, they had never touched on a topic more personal than which of Buccleuch’s bastards to invite to the wedding. But he liked her fine; and she was good and broad where it would matter to future Buccleuchs, which summed up all his mind so far on the subject.”
“I’ve wed his two empty boots.’ ‘That you havena,’ said Janet, Lady of Buccleuch, lowering her voice not at all in the presence of two hundred twittering Scott relations as they gazed after their vanishing husbands. ‘They aye remember their boots. It’s their empty nightgowns that get fair monotonous.”
“And if there’s no trouble, you’ll make it,’ offered Will Scott, his eyes bright, his cheeks red. ‘No. At the moment,’ affirmed Lymond grimly, ‘I am having truck with nothing less than total calamity.”
“It wasna a man,’ said Andrew Kerr broadly. ‘T’was my aunty. I tellt ye. I’m no risking cauld steel in ma wame for a pittance, unless all that’s mine is well lookit after—’ ‘An old lady,’ said Lord Grey with forbearance, ‘in curling papers and a palatial absence of teeth?’ ‘My aunt Lizzie!’ said Andrew Kerr. ‘She has just,’ said Lord Grey austerely, ‘seriously injured one of my men.’ ‘How?’ The old savage looked interested. ‘From an upper window. The castle was burning, and he was climbing a ladder to offer the lady her freedom. She cracked his head with a chamberpot,’ said Lord Grey distastefully, ‘and retired crying that she would have no need of a jurden in Heaven, as the good Lord had no doubt thought of more convenient methods after the seventh day, when He had had a good rest.”
“Depose him,’ said Will Scott, astonished. ‘The Grand Master’s holy office terminates with his life.’ ‘And can nobody think of an answer to that?’ said Will Scott.”