... I met a Doctor Carlisle while I was in Scotland, who lived near Kirtleton and was able to tell me lots of anecdotes about my family, especially a festive old party called "Ned of the Heuck," my grandfather's brother and sheriff of the county. He was once at dinner with his friends when it was announced that the house had taken fire, whereupon he said to his guests: "Let's have another drink, and then go and put out the fire !" ...
