ave had the reins since you
were a bairn, and you have been a handful. You were a 'smatchit' at
six years old, and a 'trimmie' at twelve, and you are qualifying for
the highest rank in your class."

"What may that be, pray? it seems to me that the Scottish tongue is a
perfect treasure-house for impertinent people. How Scots must
congratulate themselves that they need never be at a loss when they are
angry or even simply frank."

"If it comes to downright swearing, you must go to Gaelic," said the
General, branching off. "Donald used to be quite contemptuous of any
slight efforts at profanity in the barrack yard, although they sickened
me. 'Toots, Colonel; ye do not need to be troubling yourself with such
poor little words, for they are just nothing at all, and yet the bodies
will be saying them over and over again like parrots. Now a Lochaber
man could hef been saying what he wass wanting for fifteen minutes, and
nefer hef used the same word twice, unless he had been forgetting his
Gaelic. It's a peautiful language, the Gaelic, when you will not be
fery well pleased with a man.'"

"That is very good, dad, but I think we were speaking in Scotch, and
you have not told me that nice complimentary title I am living to
deserve. Is 'cutty' the disreputable word? for I think I 've passed
that rank already; it sounds quite familiar."

"No, it's a far more fetching word than 'cutty,' or even than 'randy'
(scold), which you may have heard."

"I have," replied Kate instantly, "more than once, and especially after
I had a difference in opinion with Lieutenant Strange. You called me
one or two names then, dad---in fact you were quite eloquent; but you
know that he was a bad fellow, and that the regiment was well rid of
him; but I 'm older now, and I have not heard my promotion."

"It's the most vigorous word that Scots have for a particular kind of
woman."

"Describe her," demanded Kate.

"One who has a mind of her own," began the General, carefully, "and a
way, too, who is not easily cowed or managed, who is not . . ."

"A fool," suggested Kate.

"Who is not conspicuously soft in manner," pursued the General, with
discretion, "who might even have a temper."

"Not a tame rabbit, in fact. I understand what you are driving at, and
I know what a model must feel when she is being painted. And now
kindly pluck up courage and name the picture." And Kate leant back,
with her hand behind her head, challenging the Gen