d in his best
English.

''Deed I cudna mak naething o' 'm. He winkit an' he mintit (hinted) an'
he gae me to unnerstan' 'at the deevil was efter some lass or ither, but
wha--my lad was as dumb 's the graveyard about that. Gin I cud only win
at that, maybe I cud play him a plisky. But he coupit ower three glasses
o' whusky, an' the mair he drank the less he wad say. An' sae I left
him.'

'Well, take care what you're about, Shargar. I don't think Dr. Anderson
would like you to be in such company,' said Robert; and Shargar departed
to his own room and his version.

Towards the end of the session Miss St. John's reports of Ericson were
worse. Yet he was very hopeful himself, and thought he was getting
better fast. Every relapse he regarded as temporary; and when he got a
little better, thought he had recovered his original position. It was
some relief to Miss St. John to communicate her anxiety to Robert.

After the distribution of the prizes, of which he gained three, Robert
went the same evening to visit Dr. Anderson, intending to go home the
next day. The doctor gave him five golden sovereigns--a rare sight in
Scotland. Robert little thought in what service he was about to spend
them.

CHAPTER XXII. ROBERT IN ACTION.

It was late when he left his friend. As he walked through the
Gallowgate, an ancient narrow street, full of low courts, some one
touched him upon the arm. He looked round. It was a young woman. He
turned again to walk on.

'Mr Faukner,' she said, in a trembling voice, which Robert thought he
had heard before.

He stopped.

'I don't know you,' he said. 'I can't see your face. Tell me who you
are.'

She returned no answer, but stood with her head aside. He could see that
her hands shook.

'What do you want with me--if you won't say who you are?'

'I want to tell you something,' she said; 'but I canna speyk here. Come
wi' me.'

'I won't go with you without knowing who you are or where you're going
to take me.'

'Dinna ye ken me?' she said pitifully, turning a little towards the
light of the gas-lamp, and looking up in his face.

'It canna be Jessie Hewson?' said Robert, his heart swelling at the
sight of the pale worn countenance of the girl.

'I was Jessie Hewson ance,' she said, 'but naebody here kens me by that
name but yersel'. Will ye come in? There's no a crater i' the hoose but
mysel'.'

Robert turned at once. 'Go on,' he said.

She led the way up a narrow stone stair be