he threw the "poems" right in my face, and was out of
the door before I could shut my mouth, which was fairly gasping with
astonishment--like a fish's just out of the water. And so would yours
to have all that happen when you have only been out of doors putting
off time till Elsie would come down to the kitchen to get mother's
beef-tea from Grace Rigley at ten-past eleven!

But there was no brother-and-sistering in the corner of the stairway
that day, waiting for grandfather's clock to strike twenty-four. I
simply stood and gaped. For I had not, on my honour, the least idea
what it was all about. I knew, of course, that when girls or women
folk get things into their heads, it is better to let them get better
of themselves. But this was quite beyond me. I gave it up. Now, can
you get the hang of it without being told?

I did not go after Elsie. Because--first I knew it was better to let
her settle a little. More than that, I could not go racing after her
all down the village street; and, lastly, I heard my mother calling.
Not that I would have minded that so much, except for the two first
reasons. I knew she had Mrs. Caleb Fergusson with her. But, as it
was, I went up to see.

The two old ladies were sitting as cosily as possible. It was my
mother who spoke.

"Susan and I have just been talking," she said, "and as Elsie will have
to go back to the school to her teaching, I see nothing for it but that
Meysie Caw's daughters should come here in her place. It is a big
house this, and a lonely one. And forbye, I think Elsie is far from
well. For I called her in and explained everything to her, and out she
went without answering a word or even saying how pleased she would be
to ken that I was well taken care of."

"More than that," said Mistress Caleb; "she has just gone down the
street with a bundle as fast as if she had wings. I am doubting that
there must be something lichtsome about Elsie Stennis. She may tak'
after her minnie that ran off wi' a sodjer man. Eh, the lilt o' the
bagpipes and the tuck o' the drum, but they rin i' the blood! There's
me mysel', I canna see a regiment gang by, route marchin' out o'
Newcastle, but I look at my auld man and think how Caleb wad hae lookit
in a red coat!"

Then, because I was not going to have Elsie miscalled, even by my
mother, I explained how that Elsie had been compelled to go back to Mr.
Mustard's, and how rather than grieve her with a formal parting,