man baith.'

He scarcely knew what he was saying before it was out of his mouth; and
as if to cover it up, he hurried on.

'An' there's mair in 't.--Dr. Anderson gae Shargar an' me a sovereign
the piece. An' Dooble Sanny s' hae them, to haud him ohn deid o' hunger
an' cauld.'

'What for didna ye tell me 'at Dr. Anderson had gien ye sic a sicht o'
siller? It was ill-faured o' ye--an' him as weel.'

''Cause ye wad hae sent it back till 'im; an' Shargar and me we thocht
we wad raither keep it.'

'Considerin' 'at I'm at sae muckle expense wi' ye baith, it wadna hae
been ill-contrived to hae brocht the siller to me, an' latten me du wi'
't as I thocht fit.--Gang na awa', laddie,' she added, as she saw Robert
about to leave the room.

'I'll be back in a minute, grannie,' returned Robert.

'He's a fine lad, that!' said Mr. Innes; 'an' guid 'll come o' 'm, and
that 'll be heard tell o'.'

'Gin he had but the grace o' God, there wadna be muckle to compleen o','
acquiesced his grandmother.

'There's time eneuch for that, Mrs. Faukner. Ye canna get auld heids
upo' young shoothers, ye ken.'

''Deed for that maitter, ye may get mony an auld heid upo' auld
shoothers, and nae a spark o' grace in 't to lat it see hoo to lay
itsel' doon i' the grave.'

Robert returned before Mr. Innes had made up his mind as to whether the
old lady intended a personal rebuke.

'Hae, grannie,' he said, going up to her, and putting the two sovereigns
in her white palm.

He had found some difficulty in making Shargar give up his, else he
would have returned sooner.

'What's this o' 't, laddie?' said Mrs. Falconer. 'Hoots! I'm nae gaein'
to tak yer siller. Lat the puir soutar-craturs hae 't. But dinna gie
them mair nor a shillin' or twa at ance--jist to haud them in life. They
deserve nae mair. But they maunna sterve. And jist ye tell them, laddie,
at gin they spen' ae saxpence o' 't upo' whusky, they s' get nae mair.'

'Ay, ay, grannie,' responded Robert, with a glimmer of gladness in his
heart. 'And what aboot the fiddlin', grannie?' he added, half playfully,
hoping for some kind concession therein as well.

But he had gone too far. She vouchsafed no reply, and her face grew
stern with offence. It was one thing to give bread to eat, another to
give music and gladness. No music but that which sprung from effectual
calling and the perseverance of the saints could be lawful in a world
that was under the wrath and curse of God. Robert wa