lf from her grasp, and stood by the fore wheel of the
cab.

'Get down!' he said, in a voice that was not the less impressive that it
was low and hoarse.

The fellow saw what he meant, and whipped his horse. Shargar sprung on
the box, and dragged him down all but headlong.

'Now,' he said, 'beg my mother's pardon.'

'Be damned if I do, &c., &c.,' said the cabman.

'Then defend yourself,' said Shargar. 'Robert.'

Falconer was watching it all, and was by his side in a moment.

'Come on, you, &c., &c.,' cried the cabman, plucking up heart and
putting himself in fighting shape. He looked one of those insolent
fellows whom none see discomfited more gladly than the honest men of his
own class. The same moment he lay between his horse's feet.

Shargar turned to Robert, and saying only, 'There, Robert!' turned again
towards the woman. The cabman rose bleeding, and, desiring no more of
the same, climbed on his box, and went off, belabouring his horse, and
pursued by a roar from the street, for the spectators were delighted at
his punishment.

'Now, mother,' said Shargar, panting with excitement.

'What ca' they ye?' she asked, still doubtful, but as proud of being
defended as if the coarse words of her assailant had had no truth in
them. 'Ye canna be my lang-leggit Geordie.'

'What for no?'

'Ye're a gentleman, faith!'

'An' what for no, again?' returned Shargar, beginning to smile.

'Weel, it's weel speired. Yer father was ane ony gait--gin sae be 'at ye
are as ye say.'

Moray put his head close to hers, and whispered some words that nobody
heard but herself.

'It's ower lang syne to min' upo' that,' she said in reply, with a look
of cunning consciousness ill settled upon her fine features. 'But ye can
be naebody but my Geordie. Haith, man!' she went on, regarding him once
more from head to foot, 'but ye're a credit to me, I maun alloo. Weel,
gie me a sovereign, an' I s' never come near ye.'

Poor Shargar in his despair turned half mechanically towards Robert. He
felt that it was time to interfere.

'You forget, mother,' said Shargar, turning again to her, and speaking
English now, 'it was I that claimed you, and not you that claimed me.'

She seemed to have no idea of what he meant.

'Come up the road here, to oor public, an' tak a glaiss, wuman,' said
Falconer. 'Dinna haud the fowk luikin' at ye.'

The temptation of a glass of something strong, and the hope of getting
money out of them, caused an ins