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than abusive words a diversion took place。
Mrs。 Innes； the school…master's wifea stout； kind…hearted woman；
the fine condition of whose temperament was clearly the result of
her physical prosperityappeared at the door which led to the
dwelling…house above； bearing in her hands a huge tureen of
potato…soup； for her motherly heart could not longer endure the
thought of dinnerless boys。 Her husband being engaged at a parish
meeting； she had a chance of interfering with success。
But ere Nancy； the servant； could follow with the spoons and plates；
Wattie Morrison had taken the tureen； and out of spite at Robert；
had emptied its contents on the head of Shargar； who was still tied
by the feet； with the words： 'Shargar； I anoint thee king over us；
and here is thy crown；' giving the tureen； as he said so； a push on
to his head； where it remained。
Shargar did not move； and for one moment could not speak； but the
next he gave a shriek that made Robert think he was far worse
scalded than turned out to be the case。 He darted to him in rage；
took the tureen from his head； and； his blood being fairly up now；
flung it with all his force at Morrison； and felled him to the
earth。 At the same moment the master entered by the street door and
his wife by the house door； which was directly opposite。 In the
middle of the room the prisoners surrounded the fallen
tyrantRobert； with the red face of wrath； and Shargar； with a
complexion the mingled result of tears； ink； and soup； which latter
clothed him from head to foot besides； standing on the outskirts of
the group。 I need not follow the story farther。 Both Robert and
Morrison got a lickin'； and if Mr。 Innes had been like some
school…masters of those times； Shargar would not have escaped his
share of the evil things going。
》From that day Robert assumed the acknowledged position of Shargar's
defender。 And if there was pride and a sense of propriety mingled
with his advocacy of Shargar's rights； nay； even if the relation was
not altogether free from some amount of show…off on Robert's part； I
cannot yet help thinking that it had its share in that development
of the character of Falconer which has chiefly attracted me to the
office of his biographer。 There may have been in it the exercise of
some patronage； probably it was not pure from the pride of
beneficence； but at least it was a loving patronage and a vigorous
beneficence； and； under the reaction of these； the good which in
Robert's nature was as yet only in a state of solution； began to
crystallize into character。
But the effect of the new relation was far more remarkable on
Shargar。 As incapable of self…defence as ever； he was yet in a
moment roused to fury by any attack upon the person or the dignity
of Robert： so that； indeed； it became a new and favourite mode of
teasing Shargar to heap abuse； real or pretended； upon his friend。
》From the day when Robert thus espoused his part； Shargar was
Robert's dog。 That very evening； when she went to take a parting
peep at the external before locking the door for the night； Betty
found him sitting upon the door…step； only； however； to send him
off； as she described it； 'wi' a flech1 in 's lug （a flea in his
ear）。' For the character of the mother was always associated with
the boy； and avenged upon him。 I must； however； allow that those
delicate； dirty fingers of his could not with safety be warranted
from occasional picking and stealing。
At this period of my story； Robert himself was rather a
grotesque…looking animal； very tall and lanky； with especially long
arms； which excess of length they retained after he was full…grown。
In this respect Shargar and he were alike； but the long legs of
Shargar were unmatched in Robert； for at this time his body was
peculiarly long。 He had large black eyes； deep sunk even then； and
a Roman nose； the size of which in a boy of his years looked
portentous。 For the rest； he was dark…complexioned； with dark hair；
destined to grow darker still； with hands and feet well modelled；
but which would have made four feet and four hands such as
Shargar's。
When his mind was not oppressed with the consideration of any
important metaphysical question； he learned his lessons well； when
such was present； the Latin grammar； with all its attendant
servilities； was driven from the presence of the lordly need。 That
once satisfied in spite of pandies and imprisonments； he returned
with fresh zest； and； indeed； with some ephemeral ardour； to the
rules of syntax or prosody； though the latter； in the mode in which
it was then and there taught； was almost as useless as the task set
himself by a worthy lay…preacher in the neighbourhoodof learning
the first nine chapters of the first Book of the Chronicles； in
atonement for having； in an evil hour of freedom of spirit； ventured
to suggest that such lists of names； even although forming a portion
of Holy Writ； could scarcely be reckoned of equally divine authority
with St。 Paul's Epistle to the Romans。
CHAPTER VIII。
THE ANGEL UNAWARES。
Although Betty seemed to hold little communication with the outer
world； she yet contrived somehow or other to bring home what gossip
was going to the ears of her mistress； who had very few visitors；
for； while her neighbours held Mrs。 Falconer in great and evident
respect； she was not the sort of person to sit down and have a news
with。 There was a certain sedate self…contained dignity about her
which the common mind felt to be chilling and repellant； and from
any gossip of a personal naturewhat Betty brought her always
exceptedshe would turn away； generally with the words； 'Hoots！ I
canna bide clashes。'
On the evening following that of Shargar's introduction to Mrs。
Falconer's house； Betty came home from the butcher'sfor it was
Saturday night； and she had gone to fetch the beef for their
Sunday's brothwith the news that the people next door； that is；
round the corner in the next street； had a visitor。
The house in question had been built by Robert's father； and was；
compared with Mrs。 Falconer's one…storey house； large and handsome。
Robert had been born； and had spent a few years of his life in it；
but could recall nothing of the facts of those early days。 Some
time before the period at which my history commences it had passed
into other hands； and it was now quite strange to him。 It had been
bought by a retired naval officer； who lived in it with his
wifethe only Englishwoman in the place； until the arrival； at The
Boar's Head； of the lady so much admired by Dooble Sanny。
Robert was up…stairs when Betty emptied her news…bag； and so heard
nothing of this bit of gossip。 He had just assured Shargar that as
soon as his grandmother was asleep he would look about for what he
could find； and carry it up to him in the garret。 As yet he had
confined the expenditure out of Shargar's shilling to twopence。
The hous