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been developed beyond the animal。 Herein lies the happiness of cab
horses and of tramps： to them the gift of forgetfulness is of worth
inestimable。 Shargar's heaven was for the present gained。
CHAPTER V。
THE SYMPOSIUM。
Robert had scarcely turned out of the square on his way to find
Shargar； when a horseman entered it。 His horse and he were both
apparently black on one side and gray on the other； from the
snow…drift settling to windward。 The animal looked tired； but the
rider sat as easy as if he were riding to cover。 The reins hung
loose； and the horse went in a straight line for The Boar's Head；
stopping under the archway only when his master drew bridle at the
door of the inn。
At that moment Miss Letty was standing at the back of Miss Napier's
chair； leaning her arms upon it as she talked to her。 This was her
way of resting as often as occasion arose for a chat with her elder
sister。 Miss Letty's hair was gathered in a great knot at the top
of her head； and little ringlets hung like tendrils down the sides
of her face； the benevolence of which was less immediately striking
than that of her sister's； because of the constant play of humour
upon it； especially about the mouth。 If a spirit of satire could be
supposed converted into something Christian by an infusion of the
tenderest loving…kindness and humanity； remaining still recognizable
notwithstanding that all its bitterness was gone； such was the
expression of Miss Letty's mouth； It was always half puckered as if
in resistance to a comic smile； which showed itself at the windows
of the keen gray eyes； however the mouth might be able to keep it
within doors。 She was neatly dressed in black silk； with a lace
collar。 Her hands were small and white。
The moment the traveller stopped at the door； Miss Napier started。
'Letty；' she said； 'wha's that？ I could amaist sweir to Black
Geordie's fit。'
'A' four o' them； I think；' returned Miss Letty； as the horse；
notwithstanding； or perhaps in consequence of his fatigue； began to
paw and move about on the stones impatiently。
The rider had not yet spoken。
'He'll be efter some o' 's deevil…ma'…care sculduddery。 But jist
rin to the door； Letty； or Lizzy 'll be there afore ye； and maybe
she wadna be ower ceevil。 What can he be efter noo？'
'What wad the grew （grayhound） be efter but maukin （hare）？' returned
Miss Letty。
'Hoot！ nonsense！ He kens naething aboot her。 Gang to the door；
lassie。'
Miss Letty obeyed。
'Wha's there？' she asked； somewhat sharply； as she opened it； 'that
neither chaps （knocks） nor ca's？Preserve 's a'！ is't you； my
lord？'
'Hoo ken ye me； Miss Letty withoot seein' my face？'
'A'body at The Boar's Heid kens Black Geordie as weel 's yer
lordship's ain sel'。 But whaur comes yer lordship frae in sic a
nicht as this？'
'From Russia。 Never dismounted between Moscow and Aberdeen。 The
ice is bearing to…night。'
And the baron laughed inside the upturned collar of his cloak； for
he knew that strangely…exaggerated stories were current about his
feats in the saddle。
'That's a lang ride； my lord； and a sliddery。 And what's yer
lordship's wull？'
'Muckle ye care aboot my lordship to stand jawin' there in a night
like this！ Is nobody going to take my horse？'
'I beg yer lordship's pardon。 Caumill！Yer lordship never said ye
wanted yer lordship's horse ta'en。 I thocht ye micht be gaein' on
to The Bothie。Tak' Black Geordie here； Caumill。Come in to the
parlour； my lord。'
'How d'ye do； Miss Naper？' said Lord Rothie； as he entered the room。
'Here's this jade of a sister of yours asking me why I don't go home
to The Bothie； when I choose to stop and water here。'
'What'll ye tak'； my lord？Letty； fess the brandy。'
'Oh！ damn your brandy！ Bring me a gill of good Glendronach。'
'Rin； Letty。 His lordship's cauld。I canna rise to offer ye the
airm…cheir； my lord。'
'I can get one for myself； thank heaven！'
'Lang may yer lordship return sic thanks。'
'For I'm only new begun； ye think； Miss Naper。 Well； I don't often
trouble heaven with my affairs。 By Jove！ I ought to be heard when
I do。'
'Nae doobt ye will； my lord； whan ye seek onything that's fit to be
gien ye。'
'True。 Heaven's gifts are seldom much worth the asking。'
'Haud yer tongue； my lord； and dinna bring doon a judgment upo' my
hoose； for it wad be missed oot o' Rothieden；'
'You're right there； Miss Naper。 And here comes the whisky to stop
my mouth。'
The Baron of Rothie sat for a few minutes with his feet on the
fender before Miss Letty's blazing fire； without speaking； while he
sipped the whisky neat from a wine…glass。 He was a man about the
middle height； rather full…figured； muscular and active； with a
small head； and an eye whose brightness had not yet been dimmed by
the sensuality which might be read in the condition rather than
frame of his countenance。 But while he spoke so pleasantly to the
Miss Napiers； and his forehead spread broad and smooth over the
twinkle of his hazel eye； there was a sharp curve on each side of
his upper lip； half…way between the corner and the middle； which
reminded one of the same curves in the lip of his ancestral boar's
head； where it was lifted up by the protruding tusks。 These curves
disappeared； of course； when he smiled； and his smile； being a
lord's； was generally pronounced irresistible。 He was good…natured；
and nowise inclined to stand upon his rank； so long as he had his
own way。
'Any customers by the mail to…night； Miss Naper？' he asked； in a
careless tone。
'Naebody partic'lar； my lord。'
'I thought ye never let anybody in that wasn't particularly
particular。 No foot…passengerseh？'
'Hoot； my lord！ that's twa year ago。 Gin I had jaloosed him to be a
fren' o' yer lordship's； forby bein' a lord himsel'； ye ken as weel
's I du that I wadna hae sent him ower the gait to Luckie Happit's；
whaur he wadna even be ower sure o' gettin' clean sheets。 But gin
lords an' lords' sons will walk afit like ither fowk； wha's to ken
them frae ither fowk？'
'Well； Miss Naper； he was no lord at all。 He was nothing but a
factor…body doon frae Glenbucket。'
'There was sma' hairm dune than； my lord。 I'm glaid to hear 't。
But what'll yer lordship hae to yer supper？'
'I would like a dish o' your chits and nears （sweetbreads and
kidneys）。'
'Noo； think o' that！' returned the landlady； laughing。 'You great
fowk wad hae the verra coorse o' natur' turned upside doon to shuit
yersels。 Wha ever heard o' caure （calves） at this time o' the
year？'
'Well； anything you like。 Who was it came by the mail； did you
say？'
'I said naebody partic'lar； my lord。'
'Well； I'll just go and have a look at Black Geordie。'
'Verra weel； my lord。Letty； rin an' luik efter him； and as sune 's
he's roon' the neuk； tell Lizzie no to say