gain.

"He employs his spare time in taming birds and making cages for them,
and in cutting models of vessels and boats, and manufacturing other
articles; indeed, I believe he is never idle, and seems as contented and
happy as if he had been prosperous all his life, and never met with a
misfortune.

"There, I have told you all I know about old Alec and his ancestors and
descendants--four generations if I reckon rightly. I daresay as I
before said, if you ask him that he will be happy to narrate some of the
many adventures he has met with during his voyages. I suspect that he
often, while enjoying his pipe, tells them to Robby as he sits on his
knee during the long winter evenings, though the little fellow must be
puzzled to understand whereabouts they take place, unless he knows more
about geography than probably is the case."

"Thank you, Mr Maclean," exclaimed Fanny, "I long to see old Alec
again, after the account you have given us of him; I feel so sorry for
him that he should have lost his father and mother, his wife and
daughter, and all the money he has gained with so much toil and
hardship, and now to be compelled to live alone with a little child to
look after."

"I am very sure he thinks the little child a great blessing, and would
much rather have it than be without its companionship," observed Mrs
Leslie. "From the account you gave of the boy, he is very intelligent
and obedient."

"Oh yes!" answered Fanny, "he seems to understand what his grandfather
wishes him to do, and does it immediately. When he was sent back,
before going he sprang up into the old man's arms, and gave him a kiss,
and then ran off across the moor singing merrily."

"I thought him a stupid little brat," muttered Norman. "When I ran out
while you were drying your clothes, Fanny, and told him to draw me about
in the carriage, he said that he could not till he had asked his
grandfather's leave, as he had to run after one of the cows which was
straying further than she ought."

"That, instead of showing that he is stupid, proves that he is sensible
and obedient, and I wish that another little boy I know of, was equally
sensible and obedient," observed Mrs Leslie, looking at Norman.

Norman tried to appear unconcerned, but he knew very well that his
grandmamma alluded to him.

"I will make him do what I want, the next time I go there," said Norman,
but he took care that Mrs Leslie should not hear him.

The account which Fan