,
lassie, ye dinna think what ye're saying. Could ye bear to see your
puir father shut up in a prison? Could ye ever hold up your head again
for the shame o't?"

"Better, far better be innocent and in prison, than guilty and go free.
O, for my sake, for your wee lammie's sake, take back the laird's
siller and gowd."

"Or, if he should na imprison me," he continued, "he will take frae me
the place that has been mine, and my father's, and my grandfather's
afore me. I shall na ha'e where to lay my head, na shelter for you, my
bairn, an' Davie Cameron's name will be cast out as evil. Ha'e ye weel
considered a' that, Nannie?"

"The future nane can foresee," replied she; "but this I know, that it
is always safe to do the thing that is right. Then will the gude God
care for us as He cares for the wee birdie that is lilting sae sweetly
on yonder thorn. And of this be certain, dear father, that come honor
or shame, come weal, come woe, your little Nannie will cleave to you as
long as life shall last."

"Then, my blessed bairn, it shall be as you say." And even as Davie
uttered these words, the clouds lifted. All the misery and uncertainty
were gone, to be succeeded by calmness and resolution.

Rising up from the ground, he paused only for a kiss from Nannie, and
went without delay to restore the chest to its rightful owner.

Simply and truthfully he told his story from first to last; adding,
"And now I ha'e brought back wi' me the treasure I wrangfully took. Do
wi' me as ye list."

The laird was overjoyed to recover this ancient and valuable family
relic, and instead of greeting Davie with anger and threats of
punishment, as he had expected, came near overwhelming him with
gratitude, addressing him as "my good man."

"But ye dinna understand," said the bewildered Davie. "I ha'e na been
gude. I e'en had it in my heart to be a thief, a wicked, pawkie thief."

"What you _intended_ to do matters less to me than what you have really
done," answered the good-natured laird.

"Are ye na going to put me in prison, or turn me out o' my place?"

"On the contrary, I am going to reward you for the service you have
rendered."

"That maun na be," cried Davie, drawing back. "Dinna ask me. I seek na
reward but to feel that I can once mair look my fellow-creatures in the
face, _an honest man_. An' the story o' what I ha'e suffered shall aye
be a warning to me, and to my bairns after me, _to flee frae
temptation_."

A happy circl