Miss Dawson were asked to meet _us_," exulted Miss
Teenie.

"And very affable they were," added her sister. But when the sisters had
removed their best clothes and were seated in the dining-room with the
cloth laid for supper, Miss Teenie said, "All the same, it's fine to be
back in our own house and not to have to heed about manners." She pulled
a low chair close to the fire as she spoke and spread her skirt back
over her knee and, thoroughly comfortable and at peace with the world,
beamed on her sister, who replied:

"What do you say to having some toasted cheese to our supper?"

CHAPTER XII

"I hear the whaups on windy days
Cry up among the peat
Whaur, on the road that spiels the braes,
I've heard ma ain sheep's feet.
An' the bonnie lambs wi' their canny ways
And the silly yowes that bleat."

_Songs of Angus_.

Mhor, having but lately acquired the art of writing, was fond of
exercising his still very shaky pen where and when he could.

One morning, by reason of neglecting his teeth, and a few other toilet
details, he was able to be downstairs ten minutes before breakfast, and
spent the time in the kitchen, plaguing Mrs. M'Cosh to let him write an
inscription in her Bible.

"What wud ye write?" she asked suspiciously.

"I would write," said Mhor--"I would write, 'From Gervase Taunton to
Mrs. M'Cosh.'"

"That wud be a lee," said Mrs. M'Cosh, "for I got it frae ma sister
Annie, her that's in Australia. Here see, there's a post-caird for ye.
It's a rale nice yin.--Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. There's Annackers'
shope as plain's plain."

Mhor looked discontentedly at the offering. "I wish," he said
slowly--"I wish I had a post-card of a hippopotamus being sick."

"Ugh, you want unnaitural post-cairds. Think on something wise-like,
like a guid laddie."

Mhor considered. "If you give me a sheet of paper and an envelope I
might write to the Lion at the Zoo."

For the sake of peace Mrs. M'Cosh produced the materials, and Mhor sat
down at the table, his elbows spread out, his tongue protruding. He had
only managed "Dear Lion," when Jean called him to go upstairs and wash
his teeth and get a clean handkerchief.

The sun was shining into the dining-room, lighting up the blue china on
the dresser, and catching the yellow lights in Jean's hair.

"What a silly morning for November," growled Jock. "What's the sun going
on shining like that for? You'd think it thought it was summe