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curtains； but no voice of music came forth。 The window was as dumb
as the pale； faintly befogged moon overhead； itself seeming but a
skylight through which shone the sickly light of the passionless
world of the dead。 Not a form was in the street。 The eyes of the
houses gleamed here and there upon the snow。 He leaned his elbow on
the window…sill behind which stood that sealed fountain of lovely
sound； looked up at the moon； careless of her or of aught else in
heaven or on earth； and sunk into a reverie； in which nothing was
consciously present but a stream of fog…smoke that flowed slowly；
listlessly across the face of the moon； like the ghost of a dead
cataract。 All at once a wailful sound arose in his head。 He did
not think for some time whether it was born in his brain； or entered
it from without。 At length he recognized the Flowers of the Forest；
played as only the soutar could play it。 But alas！ the cry
responsive to his bow came only from the auld wifeno more from the
bonny leddy！ Then he remembered that there had been a humble
wedding that morning on the opposite side of the way； in the street
department of the jollity of which Shargar had taken a small share
by firing a brass cannon； subsequently confiscated by Mrs。 Falconer。
But this was a strange tune to play at a wedding！ The soutar
half…way to his goal of drunkenness； had begun to repent for the
fiftieth time that year； had with his repentance mingled the memory
of the bonny leddy ruthlessly tortured to death for his wrong； and
had glided from a strathspey into that sorrowful moaning。 The
lament interpreted itself to his disconsolate pupil as he had never
understood it before； not even in the stubble…field； for it now
spoke his own feelings of waste misery； forsaken loneliness。 Indeed
Robert learned more of music in those few minutes of the foggy
winter night and open street； shut out of all doors； with the tones
of an ancient grief and lamentation floating through the blotted
moonlight over his ever…present sorrow； than he could have learned
from many lessons even of Miss St。 John。 He was cold to the heart；
yet went in a little comforted。
Things had gone ill with him。 Outside of Paradise； deserted of his
angel； in the frost and the snow； the voice of the despised violin
once more the source of a sad comfort！ But there is no better
discipline than an occasional descent from what we count well…being；
to a former despised or less happy condition。 One of the results of
this taste of damnation in Robert was； that when he was in bed that
night； his heart began to turn gently towards his old master。 How
much did he not owe him； after all！ Had he not acted ill and
ungratefully in deserting him？ His own vessel filled to the brim
with grief； had he not let the waters of its bitterness overflow
into the heart of the soutar？ The wail of that violin echoed now in
Robert's heart； not for Flodden； not for himself； but for the
debased nature that drew forth the plaint。 Comrades in misery； why
should they part？ What right had he to forsake an old friend and
benefactor because he himself was unhappy？ He would go and see him
the very next night。 And he would make friends once more with the
much 'suffering instrument' he had so wrongfully despised。
CHAPTER II。
THE STROKE。
The following night； he left his books on the table； and the house
itself behind him； and sped like a grayhound to Dooble Sanny's shop；
lifted the latch； and entered。
By the light of a single dip set on a chair； he saw the shoemaker
seated on his stool； one hand lying on the lap of his leathern
apron； his other hand hanging down by his side； and the fiddle on
the ground at his feet。 His wife stood behind him； wiping her eyes
with her blue apron。 Through all its accumulated dirt； the face of
the soutar looked ghastly； and they were eyes of despair that he
lifted to the face of the youth as he stood holding the latch in his
hand。 Mrs。 Alexander moved towards Robert； drew him in； and gently
closed the door behind him； resuming her station like a sculptured
mourner behind her motionless husband。
'What on airth's the maitter wi' ye； Sandy？' said Robert。
'Eh； Robert！' returned the shoemaker； and a tone of affection tinged
the mournfulness with which he uttered the strange words'eh；
Robert！ the Almichty will gang his ain gait； and I'm in his grup
noo。'
'He's had a stroke；' said his wife； without removing her apron from
her eyes。
'I hae gotten my pecks （blows）；' resumed the soutar； in a despairing
voice； which gave yet more effect to the fantastic eccentricity of
conscience which from the midst of so many grave faults chose such a
one as especially bringing the divine displeasure upon him： 'I hae
gotten my pecks for cryin' doon my ain auld wife to set up your
bonny leddy。 The tane's gane a' to aise an' stew （ashes and dust）；
an' frae the tither；' he went on； looking down on the violin at his
feet as if it had been something dead in its youth'an' frae the
tither I canna draw a cheep； for my richt han' has forgotten her
cunnin' Man； Robert； I canna lift it frae my side。'
'Ye maun gang to yer bed；' said Robert； greatly concerned。
'Ow； ay； I maun gang to my bed； and syne to the kirkyaird； and syne
to hell； I ken that weel eneuch。 Robert； I lea my fiddle to you。
Be guid to the auld wife； manbetter nor I hae been。 An auld
wife's better nor nae fiddle。'
He stooped； lifted the violin with his left hand； gave it to Robert；
rose； and made for the door。 They helped him up the creaking stair；
got him half…undressed； and laid him in his bed。 Robert put the
violin on the top of a press within sight of the sufferer； left him
groaning； and ran for the doctor。 Having seen him set out for the
patient's dwelling； he ran home to his grandmother。
Now while Robert was absent； occasion had arisen to look for him：
unusual occurrence； a visitor had appeared； no less a person than
Mr。 Innes； the school…master。 Shargar had been banished in
consequence from the parlour； and had seated himself outside
Robert's room； never doubting that Robert was inside。 Presently he
heard the bell ring； and then Betty came up the stair； and said
Robert was wanted。 Thereupon Shargar knocked at the door； and as
there was neither voice nor hearing； opened it； and found； with a
well…known horror； that he had been watching an empty room。 He made
no haste to communicate the fact。 Robert might return in a moment；
and his absence from the house not be discovered。 He sat down on
the bedstead and waited。 But Betty came up again； and before
Shargar could prevent her； walked into the room with her candle in
her hand。 In vain did Shargar intreat her to go and say that Robert
was coming。 Betty would not risk the danger of discovery in
connivance； and descended to open afresh the fountain of the old
lady's anxiety。 She did not； however； betray her disquietude to