But after he's paid for the drinks, he'll aye turn toward the entrance,and nod to all o' them, and say:

"Weel, lads, gude nicht. I'll be gae'n hame the noo."

They'll be skinnyking he's mean, most like. I've heard them, after he'soot the door, turn to ane anither, and say:

"Did ye ever look at a man sae mean as Wully?"

And he kens fine the way they're talking, but never a bean does hecare. He kens, d'ye see, hoo he maun be using his money. And thesiller a second round o' drinks wad ha' cost him went to his family--and, occasionally, if the truth be known, one o' them that was no sae"mean" wad come aroond to see Wully at his shop.

"Man, Wull," he'd say. "I'm awfu' short. Can ye no lend me the loan o'five bob till Setterday?"