xpelled with contumely.
But, with an instinct of facing the worst at once which accompanied him
through life, he went straight to his grandmother's parlour.

'Well, grandmamma,' he said, trying to speak as cheerfully as he could.

Grannie's prayers had softened her a little, else she would have been
as silent as Betty; for it was from her mistress that Betty had learned
this mode of torturing a criminal. So she was just able to return his
greeting in the words, 'Weel, Robert,' pronounced in a finality of tone
that indicated she had done her utmost, and had nothing to add.

'Here's a browst (brewage)!' thought Robert to himself; and, still on
the principle of flying at the first of mischief he saw--the best mode
of meeting it, no doubt--addressed his grandmother at once. The effort
necessary gave a tone of defiance to his words.

'What for willna ye speik to me, grannie?' he said. 'I'm no a haithen,
nor yet a papist.'

'Ye're waur nor baith in ane, Robert.'

'Hoots! ye winna say baith, grannie,' returned Robert, who, even at the
age of fourteen, when once compelled to assert himself, assumed a modest
superiority.

'Nane o' sic impidence!' retorted Mrs. Falconer. 'I wonner whaur ye
learn that. But it's nae wonner. Evil communications corrupt gude
mainners. Ye're a lost prodigal, Robert, like yer father afore ye. I hae
jist been sittin' here thinkin' wi' mysel' whether it wadna be better
for baith o' 's to lat ye gang an' reap the fruit o' yer doin's at ance;
for the hard ways is the best road for transgressors. I'm no bund to
keep ye.'

'Weel, weel, I s' awa' to Shargar. Him and me 'ill haud on thegither
better nor you an' me, grannie. He's a puir cratur, but he can stick
till a body.'

'What are ye haverin' aboot Shargar for, ye heepocreet loon? Ye'll no
gang to Shargar, I s' warran'! Ye'll be efter that vile limmer that's
turnt my honest hoose intil a sty this last fortnicht.'

'Grannie, I dinna ken what ye mean.'

'She kens, than. I sent her aff like ane o' Samson's foxes, wi' a
firebrand at her tail. It's a pity it wasna tied atween the twa o' ye.'

'Preserve 's, grannie! Is't possible ye hae ta'en Shargar for ane o'
wumman-kin'?'

'I ken naething aboot Shargar, I tell ye. I ken that Betty an' me tuik
an ill-faured dame i' the bed i' the garret.'

'Cud it be his mither?' thought Robert in bewilderment; but he recovered
himself in a moment, and answered,

'Shargar may be a quean efter a', for onythin