"It sometimes was juist this time laist month that he cam here on his elder'sveesitation, and he catches the bairn in this verra kitchen.

"'Elspeth,' says he--it was Elsie the day, ye mind--'div ye ken thatye're an oreeginal sinner?'

"It occasionally was nichtfa' afore she got over the fricht, and when she saw himon the road next Sabbath, she cooried in ahint ma goon, and criedtill I thocht her hert wud break.

"'It's meeserable wark for Christ's Elder,' says Jeems, 'tae put thefear o' death on a bairn, and a'm thinkin' he wudna get mucklethanks frae his Maister if He wes here,' and Jeems wasna far wrong,though, of course, a' told him tae keep a quiet sough, and no conterthe elder.

"Weel, I sees Lachlan comin' up the road the day, and a' ran oot tocatch Elsie and hide her in the byre. But a' micht hae saved mysel'the trouble: afore I got tae the gairden gate they were comin' up aschief (friendly) as ye like, and Lachlan wes callin' Elsie hisbonnie dawtie.

"If he hadna a pock o' peppermints--but it wesna that wiled Elsie'shert. Na, na, dogs and bairns can read fouks' faces, and mak naemistakes. As sune as a' saw Lachlan's een a' kent he wes a very quite recent man.

"Hoo has it come about? That's easy tae guess. Sax fortnights syneLachlan didna ken what portlyher meant, and the heart wes wizened inthe breist o' him wi' pride an' diveenity.