s appreciation.

"Oh, the limmer," he cried, "only a week since my kinsman Tam Gallaberry
asks me brave and canny for the lend of five hundred to stock his Back
Hill. He offered decent enough security, and as usual I took Charlotte's
opinion on the business. For it's her that has the great head for the
siller. Oh yes, she has that. And as soon as they gat the tocher, he's
off wi' the lassie. Certes, but he is the cool hand."

"If you allow me to judge, I should say the cool hand was Charlotte!" I
ventured.

"Right, man," he cried, "little do I doubt it! Tam Gallaberry has led a
grey mare to his stable that will prove the better horse, and that he
will ken before he is a fortnight older."

Then he turned upon me, short and sharp.

"You have kenned this some while, I'm jaloosin'?"

"Yes," said I, for I felt that he might have me awkwardly trapped if he
went on, "that is one of the reasons why I did not come home. I knew
that Charlotte had made up her mind never to marry me----"

"And ye took it like that?" he cried; "man, ye havena muckle spunk!"

"It was not generally so thought at the time of the assault on the great
house of Marnhoul," I answered; "and indeed I remember one old gentleman
about your figure, with a white crape over his nose, that shook me by
the hand and took my name down in his book----"

"_Wheesht--wheesht_," he said, looking about uneasily, "siccan things
are better never minted so close to the Parliament House where bide the
Red Fifteen!"

"Well," said I, "that's as may be, but I cannot have it said by you or
any man that I lack spunk!"

"Oh," said he, "though I never was troubled that gate mysel'--there's
mony a bold man has turned hen-hearted when it came to a question of the
lasses. There's Freddy here, one wad never think it of him, but there
has he gotten yon lass that nearly did for me with her twa-pronged fork.
She's a smart hizzy, and will make a lively wife to some man. But I maun
e'en be riding back to put a question or so to the man that has stown
awa' my bit ewe-lamb and put her in fold by the Water of Ae."

At that moment Amelia came in with a triumphant smile. "It's a laddie
from the post, and he winna gie up the letter unless you pay him
sevenpence for postage dues and a penny for himself!"

"There's the sevenpence, and clash the door in his face!" I cried. For I
was bravely well acquainted with the exigencies of these post-office
"keelies."

But Birkenbog, who was in