“Dinna break on`t yet, Girzie; keep it for him, and I'll gie ye five notes “I'll no hae a penny o't. Gie it to him when I'm awa' gin ye like, or gie me an extra penny for the fish when I ca' on ye; but I'll hae nane o't enoo. Eh, man, I'll be proud and willing to work to make up the store again, if I only had him safe here; but I dinna ken what for, or what way, my mind misgies me that I'll never see my Wattie hame ony mair, and that's the reason I'm sae ready to break on his siller." "There's nae fear but ye'll find him. Dinna let that thought get the better o' ye.” 66 Hoot, aye, it's just an auld wife's clavers, I ken; yet afore ye gang, Cairnieford, and since ye want to help me, will ye promise that, gin onything should gae wrang wi' me, and he come hame, will ye promise that ye'll be a friend to him ?" "There's my hand on't, he shall not want a friend while I'm to the fore." “That's gien me mair heart nor your five notes would hae dune. Do ye see this stane ?" (laying her hand on one at the back of the chimney, black with soot). "Aye, what's there ?” “That's my bank; howk oot the stane when the time comes, and ye'll find a' that I hae to help Wattie when I can help him nae mair.” "I'll mind, Girzie; but I'll no need to do your bidding for mony a lang year yet." "I houp no, but onyway I'm easier in mysel' noo that I hae settled a' thing." Having in this simple fashion made her will, and placed her affairs decently and in order, as became a person about to venture forth on a journey the end of which she could not foresee, Girzie was ready to start. Robin left her arranging with her neighbour about the care of Dawnie the cuddy, and set out on his own journey to Clashgirn. The evening was dark and windy, with heavy clouds sweeping rapidly across the sky; occasionally in their kaleidoscope changes permitting a few pale stars to glimmer on the earth. He proceeded at a rapid pace, notwithstanding the stiffness of his joints and the unusual heaviness of his limbs, resulting from the fatigues he had undergone since the last night, and from having permitted his wet clothes to dry on him. But by the time he reached Clashgirn the joints had become supple again, and he felt little of the fatigue he had been unpleasantly sensible of in starting. This relief freshened his mind as well, and prepared him for what he anticipated would be a hot encounter with the Laird. "If he wasna a cripple toad, there would be some satisfaction in shaking the worthless life out o' him," he muttered with clenched teeth as he advanced to the door. There was a light in the Laird's room, as a chink in the shutter revealed. So he knocked loudly, knowing that his man was at home. An unnecessary length of time seemed to elapse before any one answered the summons, and he was on the point of knocking again, and more imperiously, when the door was opened by Mrs. Begg. The good woman looked flustered, and was evidently out of temper about something. After briefly saluting her, he asked for McWhapple. "'Deed an' I dinna ken whether ye'll get to see him the nicht or no," she answered with a toss of her head and a short laugh, both of which were intended for signs of contempt for her master; "he's been in ane o' his tantrums since morning, when we had twa or three words, and what ever he's been doing, whether he's been countin' his ill-got gowd or what, I canna say, but he hasna let ony ane in this house see the inside o' his room the whole day." "He'll hae to let me see the inside o't though, or come out to me," said Robin decisively. "Weel, it's mair nor he would let me or ony ane else," continued Mrs. Begg, her voice rising as the recollection of the indignity she had suffered was warmed by the narration of it; "he's keepit the door locked a' day, and just ta'en his meat frae the lass at the lintel-no to say that his appetite's ony the waur for want o' exercise. My certie, no, for he's eaten mair nor eneuch to dae three men wi' ord'nar' stamachs." "Tell him I'm here." “I'll dae that for ye, Cairnieford, though he tell❜t Leezie that if ony ane ca'd he couldna see them the day-as if I wasna the proper person to receive sic instructions, and be tauld the why o't tae. But I's no bide muckle langer in this house to be lightlied by sic a creatur' as him; and maybe when I gang he'll learn that I ken mair o' his goings-on nor he would care for the minister, or his brither elders, or the folk he's been haudin' his heepocritical head up among, to hear o'-my certie!" She had continued to speak in a high key as she passed down the lobby to the door of the Laird's room, as if desiring him to hear her. Although Mrs. Begg had a temper, she was, as has been already stated, a kindly body, and the prime cause of her quarrel with Clashgirn was her anxiety about Falcon, in consequence of rumours she had heard from Cairnieford. She knocked sharply at the door, and shrilly announced the visitor. There was none of the usual unction in the Laird's tone as he replied, not even a note of the martyr-like whine. "I canna see him or onybody the nicht. I'm busy. I'm no weel. I hae got a bad cauld "Hech, an' ye're hoastin' sair," interrupted Mrs. Begg, satirically. 66 Gae 'wa, woman, and do as I bid ye. Aşk him to ca' the morn, and I'll see him.” "Ye hear?" said Mrs. Begg, turning to Robin, who had followed her and heard part of the Laird's answer. He now knocked himself. "Open, McWhapple," he said loudly and authoritatively, "and let me in, or come ye out, for I maun see ye, and that the noo, though I should hae to birze open the door to win at ye." 66 Od, it's extraordinar' that a man's to be commanded that gate in his ain house!" exclaimed the Laird; and there was a "I hae shuffling of stealthy feet on the floor, whilst he spoke-not his feet-as if some one were getting out of the way. tell't ye that I canna see ye the noo. Come the morn." Robin placed his shoulder against the door. "If ye dinna open by the time I count five, I'll ding doon the door." And he gave it a rough shake to show that he had the strength to carry out his threat as he began to count slowly, and in a loud voice. "Od sake, hae ye come to rob an' murder me that ye threaten to bring my ain house about my lugs? This is a fine way to treat a gentleman, and your Laird (this in an injured tone); ye dinna think I'll let this forcible entry, which is naething short o' hamesucken, pass without notice"Four," shouted Robin, "are ye ready?" 66 "Od's my life, bide a minute till I can get across the floor." 66 "Five!" And he gathered his strength to fulfil his threat when the door was flung open, and the Laird stood before him with a candle in his hand, the humble surprise of a sweet-tempered and much-wronged man expressed on his countenance. CHAPTER XXVIII. BAD MADE WORSE. "My doubts are torments waur to thole And mar the truth it fain wad see."-Anon. "ANITHER minute and there would hae been a job for smith and carpenter, and aiblins the doctor tae, if ye'd been ower near,” said Robin, as coolly as if this had been quite an ordinary method of soliciting an interview. "Weel, Cairnieford, I must say that though, as a rule, I'm ay glad to see ye, and pleased to bid ye welcome to my house, your conduct on the present occasion is o' that nature that would gar me think ye had been taking mair drink nor was guid for ye, if I didna know ye better, and certainly it becomes you so much the less to behave in this manner, seeing that you are quite sober." The Laird spoke in his best English, as was his custom on all occasions when his dignity was concerned; but it was the tone of a man who, whilst feeling himself aggrieved, is yet sorry to say so, and is open to be convinced that he has made a mistake. But his eyes blinked inquisitively and watchfully behind the candle he held up to examine the visitor, and by that means the back part of the room was thrown into complete shadow. His appearance was peculiar. Robin had never seen him otherwise than dressed with the sleek precision of a dandy, although always plainly, as became a man of serious thought. At present his clothes were disarranged, his shirt-frill, usually so well starched, and causing Mrs. Begg more anxiety than all the other duties of the house combined, was flabby and snuffy, as if he had been wearing it all night and day; and his thin hair looked as if it had not been brushed for a couple of days. His face, always sallow, was sallower than ever now, and his peering eyes seemed to be smaller and more sunken. They blinked uneasily. "Am I to come in, or are you to come out, or are we to speak here?" was Robin's answer to the Laird's neat address. "Aweel, since you're here, and since you will speak wi' me, you can come in and take a seat. And you can get some hot water, Mistress Begg, and maybe Cairnieford will take a glass o' toddy." At this hint Mrs. Begg tossed her head, and flounced off to the kitchen, whilst Robin entered the chamber, and the Laird closed the door. The room was in as much disorder as the owner's dress. The chairs were out of their places, the table was drawn up close to the fire, and was covered with a number of accountbooks and a variety of documents, except at one corner, |