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Robert； being as yet more capable of melody than harmony； grudged to
lose a lesson on Sandy's 'auld wife o' a fiddle' for any amount of
Miss St。 John's playing。
CHAPTER XV。
ERIC ERICSON。
One gusty eveningit was of the last day in MarchRobert well
remembered both the date and the daya bleak wind was driving up
the long street of the town； and Robert was standing looking out of
one of the windows in the gable…room。 The evening was closing into
night。 He hardly knew how he came to he there； but when he thought
about it he found it was play…Wednesday； and that he had been all
the half…holiday trying one thing after another to interest himself
withhal； but in vain。 He knew nothing about east winds； but not the
less did this dreary wind of the dreary March world prove itself
upon his soul。 For such a wind has a shadow wind along with it；
that blows in the minds of men。 There was nothing genial； no growth
in it。 It killed； and killed most dogmatically。 But it is an ill
wind that blows nobody good。 Even an east wind must bear some
blessing on its ugly wings。 And as Robert looked down from the
gable； the wind was blowing up the street before it half…a…dozen
footfaring students from Aberdeen； on their way home at the close of
the session； probably to the farm…labours of the spring。
This was a glad sight； as that of the returning storks in Denmark。
Robert knew where they would put up； sought his cap； and went out。
His grandmother never objected to his going to see Miss Napier； it
was in her house that the weary men would this night rest。
It was not without reason that Lord Rothie had teased his hostess
about receiving foot…passengers； for to such it was her invariable
custom to make some civil excuse； sending Meg or Peggy to show them
over the way to the hostelry next in rank； a proceeding recognized
by the inferior hostess as both just and friendly； for the good
woman never thought of measuring The Star against The Boar's Head。
More than one comical story had been the result of this law of The
Boar's Head； unalterable almost as that of the Medes and Persians。
I say almost； for to one class of the footfaring community the
official ice about the hearts of the three women did thaw； yielding
passage to a full river of hospitality and generosity； and that was
the class to which these wayfarers belonged。
Well may Scotland rejoice in her universities； for whatever may be
said against their systemI have no complaint to makethey are
divine in their freedom： men who follow the plough in the spring and
reap the harvest in the autumn； may； and often do； frequent their
sacred precincts when the winter comesso fierce； yet so
welcomeso severe； yet so blessedopening for them the doors to
yet harder toil and yet poorer fare。 I fear； however； that of such
there will be fewer and fewer； seeing one class which supplied a
portion of them has almost vanished from the countrythat class
which was its truest； simplest； and noblest strengththat class
which at one time rendered it something far other than ridicule to
say that Scotland was pre…eminently a God…fearing nationI mean the
class of cottars。
Of this class were some of the footfaring company。 But there were
others of more means than the men of this lowly origin； who either
could not afford to travel by the expensive coaches； or could find
none to accommodate them。 Possibly some preferred to walk。 However
this may have been； the various groups which at the beginning and
close of the session passed through Rothieden weary and footsore；
were sure of a hearty welcome at The Boar's Head。 And much the men
needed it。 Some of them would have walked between one and two
hundred miles before completing their journey。
Robert made a circuit； and； fleet of foot； was in Miss Napier's
parlour before the travellers made their appearance on the square。
When they knocked at the door； Miss Letty herself went and opened
it。
'Can ye tak 's in； mem？' was on the lips of their spokesman； but
Miss Letty had the first word。
'Come in； come in； gentlemen。 This is the first o' ye； and ye're
the mair welcome。 It's like seein' the first o' the swallows。 An'
sic a day as ye hae had for yer lang traivel！' she went on； leading
the way to her sister's parlour； and followed by all the students；
of whom the one that came hindmost was the most remarkable of the
groupat the same time the most weary and downcast。
Miss Napier gave them a similar welcome； shaking hands with every
one of them。 She knew them all but the last。 To him she
involuntarily showed a more formal respect； partly from his
appearance； and partly that she had never seen him before。 The
whisky…bottle was brought out； and all partook； save still the last。
Miss Lizzie went to order their supper。
'Noo； gentlemen；' said Miss Letty； 'wad ony o' ye like to gang an'
change yer hose； and pit on a pair o' slippers？'
Several declined； saying they would wait until they had had their
supper； the roads had been quite dry； &c。； &c。 One said he would；
and another said his feet were blistered。
'Hoot awa'！'2 exclaimed Miss Letty。'Here； Peggy！' she cried； going
to the door； 'tak a pail o' het watter up to the chackit room。 Jist
ye gang up； Mr。 Cameron； and Peggy 'll see to yer feet。Noo； sir；
will ye gang to yer room an' mak yersel' comfortable？jist as gin
ye war at hame； for sae ye are。'
She addressed the stranger thus。 He replied in a low indifferent
tone；
'No； thank you； I must be off again directly。'
He was from Caithness； and talked no Scotch。
''Deed； sir； ye'll do naething o' the kin'。 Here ye s' bide； tho' I
suld lock the door。'
'Come； come； Ericson； none o' your nonsense！' said one of his
fellows。 'Ye ken yer feet are sae blistered ye can hardly put ane by
the ither。It was a' we cud du； mem； to get him alang the last
mile。'
'That s' be my business； than；' concluded Miss Letty。
She left the room； and returning in a few minutes； said； as a matter
of course； but with authority；
'Mr。 Ericson； ye maun come wi' me。'
Then she hesitated a little。 Was it maidenliness in the waning
woman of five…and…forty？ It was； I believe； for how can a woman
always remember how old she is？ If ever there was a young soul in
God's world； it was Letty Napier。 And the young man was tall and
stately as a Scandinavian chief； with a look of command； tempered
with patient endurance； in his eagle face； for he was more like an
eagle than any other creature； and in his countenance signs of
suffering。 Miss Letty seeing this； was moved； and her heart
swelled； and she grew conscious and shy； and turning to Robert；
said；
'Come up the stair wi' 's； Robert； I may want ye。'
Robert jumped to his feet。 His heart too had been yearning towards
the stranger。
As if yielding to the inevitable； Ericson rose and followed Miss
Letty。 But when they had reach