Drumtochty did not laugh. Drumtochty looked as if it could have donequite otherwise for joy.

"A' wud hae made a third gin a' hed been there," announced Hillocks,aggressively.

"Come on, Drumsheugh," exclaimed Jamie Soutar, "gie's the end o't; it wesa michty mornin'."

"'We're twa auld fules,' says MacLure tae me, and he gaithers up hisclaithes. 'It wud set us better tae be tellin' Bell.'

"She wes sleepin' on the top o' her bed wrapped in a plaid, fairworn oot wi' three months' nursin' o' Saunders, but at the firsttouch she was oot upon the floor.

"'Is Saunders deein', physician?' she cries. 'Ye promised tae waukenme; dinna tell me it's a' ower.'

"'There's nae deein' aboot him, Bell; ye're no tae lose yir man thistime, sae far as a' can see. Come ben an' jidge for yersel'.