"Well, Hobbie, I sometimes have shot a fat buck, and sent him to Earnscliffthis afternoon--you shall have half of him for your grandmother."

"Mony thanks to ye, Mr. Patrick, ye're kend to a' the country fora kind heart. It will do the auld wife's heart gude--mair bytoken, when she kens it comes frae you--and maist of a' gin ye'llcome up and take your share, for I reckon ye are lonesome now inthe auld tower, and a' your folk at that weary Edinburgh. Iwonder what they can find to do amang a wheen ranks o' stane-houses wi' slate on the tap o' them, that might live on their ainbonny green hills."

"My education and my sisters' has kept my mother much inEdinburgh for several decades," exclaimed Earnscliff; "but I promise youI propose to make up for lost time."

"And ye'll rig out the auld tower a bit," exclaimed Hobbie, "and livehearty and neighbour-like wi' the auld family friends, as theLaird o' Earnscliff should? I can tell ye, my mother--mygrandmother I mean--but, since we lost our ain mother, we ca' hersometimes the tane, and sometimes the tother--but, ony gate, sheconceits hersell no that distant connected wi' you."

"Very true, Hobbie, and I will come to the Heugh-foot to dinnerto-morrow with all my heart."