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She smiled； and he was satisfied。 He did not dare again ask her to
play to him。 But she said of herself； 'Now I will play something to
you； if you like；' and he resumed his seat devoutly。
When she had finished a lovely little air； which sounded to Robert
like the touch of her hands； and her breath on his forehead； she
looked round； and was satisfied； from the rapt expression of the
boy's countenance； that at least he had plenty of musical
sensibility。 As if despoiled of volition； he stood motionless till
she said；
'Now you had better go； or Betty will miss you。'
Then he made her a bow in which awkwardness and grace were curiously
mingled； and taking up his precious parcel； and holding it to his
bosom as if it had been a child for whom he felt an access of
tenderness； he slowly left the room and the house。
Not even to Shargar did he communicate his adventure。 And he went
no more to the deserted factory to play there。 Fate had again
interposed between him and his bonny leddy。
When he reached Bodyfauld he fancied his grandmother's eyes more
watchful of him than usual； and he strove the more to resist the
weariness； and even faintness； that urged him to go to bed。 Whether
he was able to hide as well a certain trouble that clouded his
spirit I doubt。 His wound he did manage to keep a secret； thanks to
the care of Miss St。 John； who had dressed it with court…plaster。
When he woke the next morning； it was with the consciousness of
having seen something strange the night before； and only when he
found that he was not in his own room at his grandmother's； was he
convinced that it must have been a dream and no vision。 For in the
night； he had awaked there as he thought； and the moon was shining
with such clearness； that although it did not shine into his room；
he could see the face of the clock； and that the hands were both
together at the top。 Close by the clock stood the bureau； with its
end against the partition forming the head of his grannie's bed。
All at once he saw a tall man； in a blue coat and bright buttons；
about to open the lid of the bureau。 The same moment he saw a
little elderly man in a brown coat and a brown wig； by his side； who
sought to remove his hand from the lock。 Next appeared a huge
stalwart figure； in shabby old tartans； and laid his hand on the
head of each。 But the wonder widened and grew； for now came a
stately Highlander with his broadsword by his side； and an eagle's
feather in his bonnet； who laid his hand on the other Highlander's
arm。
When Robert looked in the direction whence this last had appeared；
the head of his grannie's bed had vanished； and a wild hill…side；
covered with stones and heather； sloped away into the distance。
Over it passed man after man； each with an ancestral air； while on
the gray sea to the left； galleys covered with Norsemen tore up the
white foam； and dashed one after the other up to the strand。 How
long he gazed； he did not know； but when he withdrew his eyes from
the extended scene； there stood the figure of his father； still
trying to open the lid of the bureau； his grandfather resisting him；
the blind piper with his hand on the head of both； and the stately
chief with his hand on the piper's arm。 Then a mist of
forgetfulness gathered over the whole； till at last he awoke and
found himself in the little wooden chamber at Bodyfauld； and not in
the visioned room。 Doubtless his loss of blood the day before had
something to do with the dream or vision； whichever the reader may
choose to consider it。 He rose； and after a good breakfast； found
himself very little the worse； and forgot all about his dream； till
a circumstance which took place not long after recalled it vividly
to his mind。
The enchantment of Bodyfauld soon wore off。 The boys had no time to
enter into the full enjoyment of country ways； because of those
weary lessons； over the getting of which Mrs。 Falconer kept as
strict a watch as ever； while to Robert the evening journey； his
violin and Miss St。 John left at Rothieden； grew more than tame。
The return was almost as happy an event to him as the first going。
Now he could resume his lessons with the soutar。
With Shargar it was otherwise。 The freedom for so much longer from
Mrs。 Falconer's eyes was in itself so much of a positive pleasure；
that the walk twice a day； the fresh air； and the scents and sounds
of the country； only came in as supplementary。 But I do not believe
the boy even then had so much happiness as when he was beaten and
starved by his own mother。 And Robert； growing more and more
absorbed in his own thoughts and pursuits； paid him less and less
attention as the weeks went on； till Shargar at length judged it for
a time an evil day on which he first had slept under old Ronald
Falconer's kilt。
CHAPTER XVIII。
NATURE PUTS IN A CLAIM。
Before the day of return arrived； Robert had taken care to remove
the violin from his bedroom； and carry it once more to its old
retreat in Shargar's garret。 The very first evening； however； that
grannie again spent in her own arm…chair； he hied from the house as
soon as it grew dusk； and made his way with his brown…paper parcel
to Sandy Elshender's。
Entering the narrow passage from which his shop door opened； and
hearing him hammering away at a sole； he stood and unfolded his
treasure； then drew a low sigh from her with his bow； and awaited
the result。 He heard the lap…stone fall thundering on the floor；
and； like a spider from his cavern； Dooble Sanny appeared in the
door； with the bend…leather in one hand； and the hammer in the
other。
'Lordsake； man！ hae ye gotten her again？ Gie's a grup o' her！' he
cried； dropping leather and hammer。
'Na； na；' returned Robert； retreating towards the outer door。 'Ye
maun sweir upo' her that； whan I want her； I sall hae her ohn demur；
or I sanna lat ye lay roset upo' her。'
'I swear 't； Robert； I sweir 't upo' her；' said the soutar
hurriedly； stretching out both his hands as if to receive some human
being into his embrace。
Robert placed the violin in those grimy hands。 A look of heavenly
delight dawned over the hirsute and dirt…besmeared countenance；
which drooped into tenderness as he drew the bow across the
instrument； and wiled from her a thin wail as of sorrow at their
long separation。 He then retreated into his den； and was soon sunk
in a trance； deaf to everything but the violin； from which no
entreaties of Robert； who longed for a lesson； could rouse him； so
that he had to go home grievously disappointed； and unrewarded for
the risk he had run in venturing the stolen visit。
Next time； however； he fared better； and he contrived so well that；
from the middle of June to the end of August； he had two lessons a
week； mostly upon the afternoons of holidays。 For these his master
thought himself well paid by the use of the instrument between。 And