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lads； men； and mere boysgathered to hear their fate。 Name after
name was called out；a twenty pound bursary to the first； one of
seventeen to the next； three or four of fifteen and fourteen； and so
on； for about twenty； and still no Robert Falconer。 At last；
lagging wearily in the rear； he heard his name； went up listlessly；
and was awarded five pounds。 He crept home； wrote to his
grandmother； and awaited her reply。 It was not long in coming； for
although the carrier was generally the medium of communication； Miss
Letty had contrived to send the answer by coach。 It was to the
effect that his grandmother was sorry that he had not been more
successful； but that Mr。 Innes thought it would be quite worth while
to try again； and he must therefore come home for another year。
This was mortifying enough； though not so bad as it might have been。
Robert began to pack his box。 But before he had finished it he
shut the lid and sat upon it。 To meet Miss St。 John thus disgraced；
was more than he could bear。 If he remained； he had a chance of
winning prizes at the end of the session； and that would more than
repair his honour。 The five pound bursars were privileged in paying
half fees； and if he could only get some teaching； he could manage。
But who would employ a bejan when a magistrand might be had for
next to nothing？ Besides； who would recommend him？ The thought of
Dr。 Anderson flashed into his mind； and he rushed from the house
without even knowing where he lived。
CHAPTER VI。
DR。 ANDERSON AGAIN。
At the Post…office he procured the desired information at once。 Dr。
Anderson lived in Union Street； towards the western end of it。
Away went Robert to find the house。 That was easy。 What a grand
house of smooth granite and wide approach it was！ The great door
was opened by a man…servant； who looked at the country boy from head
to foot。
'Is the doctor in？' asked Robert。
'Yes。'
'I wad like to see him。'
'Wha will I say wants him？'
'Say the laddie he saw at Bodyfauld。'
The man left Robert in the hall； which was spread with tiger and
leopard skins； and had a bright fire burning in a large stove。
Returning presently； he led him through noiseless swing…doors
covered with cloth into a large library。 Never had Robert conceived
such luxury。 What with Turkey carpet； crimson curtains；
easy…chairs； grandly…bound books and morocco…covered writing…table；
it seemed the very ideal of comfort。 But Robert liked the grandeur
too much to be abashed by it。
'Sit ye doon there；' said the servant； 'and the doctor 'ill be wi'
ye in ae minute。'
He was hardly out of the room before a door opened in the middle of
the books； and the doctor appeared in a long dressing…gown。 He
looked inquiringly at Robert for one moment； then made two long
strides like a pair of eager compasses； holding out his hand。
'I'm Robert Faukner；' said the boy。 'Ye'll min'； maybe； doctor； 'at
ye war verra kin' to me ance； and tellt me lots o' storiesat
Bodyfauld； ye ken。'
'I'm very glad to see you； Robert；' said Dr。 Anderson。 'Of course I
remember you perfectly； but my servant did not bring your name； and
I did not know but it might be the other boyI forget his name。'
'Ye mean Shargar； sir。 It's no him。'
'I can see that；' said the doctor； laughing； 'although you are
altered。 You have grown quite a man！ I am very glad to see you；'
he repeated； shaking hands with him again。 'When did you come to
town？'
'I hae been at the grammer school i' the auld toon for the last
three months；' said Robert。
'Three months！' exclaimed Dr。 Anderson。 'And never came to see me
till now！ That was too bad of you； Robert。'
'Weel； ye see； sir； I didna ken better。 An' I had a heap to do； an'
a' for naething； efter a'。 But gin I had kent 'at ye wad like to
see me； I wad hae likit weel to come to ye。'
'I have been away most of the summer；' said the doctor； 'but I have
been at home for the last month。 You haven't had your dinner； have
you？'
'Weel； I dinna exackly ken what to say； sir。 Ye see； I wasna that
sharp…set the day； sae I had jist a mou'fu' o' breid and cheese。
I'm turnin' hungry； noo； I maun confess。'
The doctor rang the bell。
'You must stop and dine with me。Johnston；' he continued； as his
servant entered； 'tell the cook that I have a gentleman to dinner
with me to…day； and she must be liberal。'
'Guidsake； sir！' said Robert； 'dinna set the woman agen me。'
He had no intention of saying anything humorous； but Dr。 Anderson
laughed heartily。
'Come into my room till dinner…time；' he said； opening the door by
which he had entered。
To Robert's astonishment； he found himself in a room bare as that of
the poorest cottage。 A small square window； small as the window in
John Hewson's； looked out upon a garden neatly kept； but now 'having
no adorning but cleanliness。' The place was just the benn end of a
cottage。 The walls were whitewashed； the ceiling was of bare
boards； and the floor was sprinkled with a little white sand。 The
table and chairs were of common deal； white and clean； save that the
former was spotted with ink。 A greater contrast to the soft； large；
richly…coloured room they had left could hardly be imagined。 A few
bookshelves on the wall were filled with old books。 A fire blazed
cheerily in the little grate。 A bed with snow…white coverlet stood
in a recess。
'This is the nicest room in the house； Robert；' said the doctor。
'When I was a student like you'
Robert shook his head；
'I'm nae student yet；' he said； but the doctor went on：
'I had the benn end of my father's cottage to study in； for he
treated me like a stranger…gentleman when I came home from college。
The father respected the son for whose advantage he was working
like a slave from morning till night。 My heart is sometimes sore
with the gratitude I feel to him。 Though he's been dead for thirty
yearswould you believe it； Robert？well； I can't talk more about
him now。 I made this room as like my father's benn end as I could；
and I am happier here than anywhere in the world。'
By this time Robert was perfectly at home。 Before the dinner was
ready he had not only told Dr。 Anderson his present difficulty； but
his whole story as far back as he could remember。 The good man
listened eagerly； gazed at the boy with more and more of interest；
which deepened till his eyes glistened as he gazed； and when a
ludicrous passage intervened； welcomed the laughter as an excuse for
wiping them。 When dinner was announced； he rose without a word and
led the way to the dining…room。 Robert followed； and they sat down
to a meal simple enough for such a house； but which to Robert seemed
a feast followed by a banquet。 For after they had done eatingon
the doctor's part a very meagre performancethey retired to his
room again； and then Robert found the table covered