which could darken his young
manhood and shadow all his future. It was a profound relief to him that
day to find his mother tidier than usual, busy with preparations for the
mid-day meal. He never knew how he should find them; too often a visit
to that home made him sick at heart.

'Ye are an early visitor, my man,' his mother said, in surprise. 'What's
brocht ye here at sic a time?'

'Is Liz here?' he inquired, with a quick glance round the kitchen.

'Liz! No.'

In her surprise at this unexpected question, Mrs. Hepburn paused, with
the lid of the broth-pot in her hand, looking wonderingly into her son's
face.

'What gars ye ask that?'

'I heard she was in Glasgow, that's why,' Walter answered cautiously.
'Where's the old man? Not working, surely?'

'Ay; he's turned over a new leaf for three days, workin' orra at
Stevenson's; they're short o' men the noo. He'll be in to his denner the
noo. Wull ye tak' a bite wi' us? It's lang since ye broke breid in this
hoose.'

'I don't mind if I do,' replied Walter, laying off his hat and drawing
the arm-chair up to the fire. 'So you have never seen Liz? The person
that saw her must have made a mistake.'

'Wha was't?'

'A lady. You don't know her. Have you never heard anything about her at
all, then?'

'No' a cheep. She's in London, they say--the folk that pretend to ken
a'thing. I'm sure I'm no' carin'.'

'And my father's really working this week? Oh, mother, if only he would
keep steady, it would make all the difference. You look better
yourself, too. Are you not far better without drink?'

'Maybe. We've made a paction, onyway, for a week, till we see,' said
Mrs. Hepburn, with a slow smile. 'The way o't was this. We fell oot wan
day, an' he cuist up to me that I couldna keep frae't, an' I jist says,
says I, "Ye canna keep frae't yersel'," an' it's for spite we're no'
touchin't. I dinna think mysel' he'll staun' oot past Seterday.'

Walter could not forbear a melancholy smile.

'It's not a very high motive, but better spite than no motive at all,'
he answered. 'D'ye think, mother, that Liz can be in Glasgow?'

'Hoo should I ken? There's yer faither's fit on the stair, an' the
tatties no' ready, but they'll be saft in a jiffy. He canna wait a
meenit for his meat. As I say, he thinks it should be walkin' doon the
stair to meet him. Ay, my man, it's you I'm on.'

She made a great clatter with knives and spoons on the table, and then
made a rush to pour the water