?'

'I do think that, grannie. He loved God and his Saviour.'

'The Lord be praised!' said Mrs. Falconer. 'I had guid houps o' 'im in
's latter days. And fowk says he's made a rich man o' ye, Robert?'

'He's left me ilka thing, excep' something till 's servan's--wha hae
weel deserved it.'

'Eh, Robert! but it's a terrible snare. Siller 's an awfu' thing. My
puir Anerew never begud to gang the ill gait, till he began to hae ower
muckle siller. But it badena lang wi' 'im.'

'But it's no an ill thing itsel', grannie; for God made siller as weel
's ither things.'

'He thinksna muckle o' 't, though, or he wad gie mair o' 't to some
fowk. But as ye say, it's his, and gin ye hae grace to use 't aricht, it
may be made a great blessin' to yersel' and ither fowk. But eh, laddie!
tak guid tent 'at ye ride upo' the tap o' 't, an' no lat it rise like a
muckle jaw (billow) ower yer heid; for it's an awfu' thing to be droont
in riches.'

'Them 'at prays no to be led into temptation hae a chance--haena they,
grannie?'

'That hae they, Robert. And to be plain wi' ye, I haena that muckle fear
o' ye; for I hae heard the kin' o' life 'at ye hae been leadin'. God's
hearkent to my prayers for you; and gin ye gang on as ye hae begun, my
prayers, like them o' David the son o' Jesse, are endit. Gang on, my
dear lad, gang on to pluck brands frae the burnin'. Haud oot a helpin'
han' to ilka son and dauchter o' Adam 'at will tak a grip o' 't. Be a
burnin' an' a shinin' licht, that men may praise, no you, for ye're
but clay i' the han's o' the potter, but yer Father in heaven. Tak the
drunkard frae his whusky, the deboshed frae his debosh, the sweirer frae
his aiths, the leear frae his lees; and giena ony o' them ower muckle o'
yer siller at ance, for fear 'at they grow fat an' kick an' defy God and
you. That's my advice to ye, Robert.'

'And I houp I'll be able to haud gey and near till 't, grannie, for it's
o' the best. But wha tellt ye what I was aboot in Lonnon?'

'Himsel'.'

'Dr. Anderson?'

'Ay, jist himsel'. I hae had letter upo' letter frae 'im aboot you and
a' 'at ye was aboot. He keepit me acquant wi' 't a'.'

This fresh proof of his friend's affection touched Robert deeply. He had
himself written often to his grandmother, but he had never entered into
any detail of his doings, although the thought of her was ever at hand
beside the thought of his father.

'Do ye ken, grannie, what's at the hert o' my houps i' the meeser