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vices of the nobility； and especially of Lord Rothie； when Meg；
entering the room； went quietly behind his chair and whispered：
'Maister MacGregor； there's a lassie come for ye。'
'I'm nae in；' he answered； magnificently。
'But it's the mistress 'at's sent for ye。 Somebody's wantin' ye。'
'Somebody maun want me； than。As I was sayin'； Mr。 Cheerman and
gentlemen'
'Mistress MacGregor 'll be efter ye hersel'； gin ye dinna gang；'
said Meg。
'Let her come。 Duv ye think I'm fleyt at her？ De'il a step 'll I
gang till I please。 Tell her that； Meg。'
Meg left the room； with a broad grin on her good…humoured face。
'What's the bitch lauchin' at？' exclaimed MacGregor； starting to his
feet。
The whole company rose likewise； using their endeavour to persuade
him to go home。
'Duv ye think I'm drunk； sirs？ I'll lat ye ken I'm no drunk。 I hae
a wull o' mine ain yet。 Am I to gang hame wi' a lassie to haud me
oot o' the gutters？ Gin ye daur to alloo that I'm drunk； ye ken hoo
ye'll fare； for de'il a fit 'll I gang oot o' this till I hae
anither tum'ler。'
'I'm thinkin' there's mair o' 's jist want ane mair；' said Peddie。
A confirmatory murmur arose as each looked into the bottom of his
tumbler； and the bell was instantly rung。 But it only brought Meg
back with the message that it was time for them all to go home。
Every eye turned upon MacGregor reproachfully。
'Ye needna luik at me that gait； sirs。 I'm no fou；' said he。
''Deed no。 Naebody taks ye to be；' answered the chairman。 'Meggie；
there's naebody's had ower muckle yet； and twa or three o' 's hasna
had freely eneuch。 Jist gang an' fess a mutchkin mair。 An'
there'll be a shillin' to yersel'； lass。'
Meg retired； but straightway returned。
'Miss Naper says there's no a drap mair drink to be had i' this
hoose the nicht。'
'Here； Meggie；' said the chairman； 'there's yer shillin'； and ye
jist gang to Miss Lettie； and gie her my compliments； and say that
Mr。 Lammie's here； and we haena seen him for a lang time。 And'the
rest was spoken in a whisper'I'll sweir to ye； Meggie； the weyver
body sanna hae ae drap o' 't。'
Meg withdrew once more； and returned。
'Miss Letty's compliments； sir； and Miss Naper has the keys； and
she's gane till her bed； and we maunna disturb her。 And it's time
'at a' honest fowk was in their beds tu。 And gin Mr。 Lammie wants a
bed i' this hoose； he maun gang till 't。 An' here's his can'le。
Gude nicht to ye a'； gentlemen。'
So saying； Meg set the lighted candle on the sideboard； and finally
vanished。 The good…tempered； who formed the greater part of the
company； smiled to each other； and emptied the last drops of their
toddy first into their glasses； and thence into their mouths。 The
ill…tempered； numbering but one more than MacGregor； growled and
swore a little； the weaver declaring that he would not go home。 But
the rest walked out and left him； and at last； appalled by the
silence； he rose with his wig awry； and trottedhe always trotted
when he was tipsyhome to his wife。
CHAPTER VI。
MRS。 FALCONER。
Meantime Robert was seated in the parlour at the little dark
mahogany table； in which the lamp； shaded towards his grandmother's
side； shone brilliantly reflected。 Her face being thus hidden both
by the light and the shadow； he could not observe the keen look of
stern benevolence with which； knowing that he could not see her； she
regarded him as he ate his thick oat…cake of Betty's skilled
manufacture； well loaded with the sweetest butter； and drank the tea
which she had poured out and sugared for him with liberal hand。 It
was a comfortable little room； though its inlaid mahogany chairs and
ancient sofa； covered with horsehair； had a certain look of
hardness； no doubt。 A shepherdess and lamb； worked in silks whose
brilliance had now faded half…way to neutrality； hung in a black
frame； with brass rosettes at the corners； over the
chimney…piecethe sole approach to the luxury of art in the homely
little place。 Besides the muslin stretched across the lower part of
the window； it was undefended by curtains。 There was no cat in the
room； nor was there one in the kitchen even； for Mrs。 Falconer had
such a respect for humanity that she grudged every morsel consumed
by the lower creation。 She sat in one of the arm…chairs belonging
to the hairy set； leaning back in contemplation of her grandson； as
she took her tea。
She was a handsome old ladylittle； but had once been taller； for
she was more than seventy now。 She wore a plain cap of muslin；
lying close to her face； and bordered a little way from the edge
with a broad black ribbon； which went round her face； and then；
turning at right angles； went round the back of her neck。 Her gray
hair peeped a little way from under this cap。 A clear but
short…sighted eye of a light hazel shone under a smooth thoughtful
forehead； a straight and well…elevated； but rather short nose； which
left the firm upper lip long and capable of expressing a world of
dignified offence； rose over a well…formed mouth； revealing more
moral than temperamental sweetness； while the chin was rather
deficient than otherwise； and took little share in indicating the
remarkable character possessed by the old lady。
After gazing at Robert for some time； she took a piece of oat…cake
from a plate by her side； the only luxury in which she indulged； for
it was made with cream instead of waterit was very little she ate
of anythingand held it out to Robert in a hand white； soft； and
smooth； but with square finger tips； and squat though pearly nails。
'Ha'e； Robert；' she said； and Robert received it with a 'Thank you；
grannie'； but when he thought she did not see him； slipped it under
the table and into his pocket。 She saw him well enough； however；
and although she would not condescend to ask him why he put it away
instead of eating it； the endeavour to discover what could have been
his reason for so doing cost her two hours of sleep that night。 She
would always be at the bottom of a thing if reflection could reach
it； but she generally declined taking the most ordinary measures to
expedite the process。
When Robert had finished his tea； instead of rising to get his books
and betake himself to his lessons； in regard to which his
grandmother had seldom any cause to complain； although she would
have considered herself guilty of high treason against the boy's
future if she had allowed herself once to acknowledge as much； he
drew his chair towards the fire； and said：
'Grandmamma！'
'He's gaein' to tell me something；' said Mrs。 Falconer to herself。
'Will 't be aboot the puir barfut crater they ca' Shargar； or will
't be aboot the piece he pat intil 's pooch？'
'Weel； laddie？' she said aloud； willing to encourage him。
'Is 't true that my gran'father was the blin' piper o' Portcloddie？'
'Ay； laddie； true eneuc