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bonny haggis hae I for you an' Flucker； an' we'll improve this sorrowfu'
judgment； an' ye'll tell me o' auld timeso' my feyther dear； that
likeit ye weel； Sandyo' the storrms ye hae weathered； side by sideo'
the muckle whales ye killed Greenland wayan' abune a'； o' the lives ye
hae saved at sea； by your daurin an' your skell； an'； oh； Sandy； will na
that be better as sit an' poor leequid damnation doown your throat； an'
gie awa the sense an' feeling o' a mon for a sair heed and an ill name？〃
〃I'se gang； my lamb；〃 said the rough man； quite subdued； 〃I daur say
whisky will no pass my teeth the day。〃
And so he went quietly away； and sat by Christie's fireside。
Jean and Christie went toward the boats。
Jean； after taking it philosophically for half a minute； began to
whimper。
〃What's wrang？〃 said Christie。
〃Div ye think my hairt's no in my mooth wi' you gripping yon fierce
robber？〃
Here a young fishwife； with a box in her hand； who had followed them；
pulled Jean by the coats。
〃Hets；〃 said Jean； pulling herself free。
The child then； with a pertinacity these little animals have； pulled
Christie's coats。
〃Hets；〃 said Christie； freeing herself more gently。
〃Ye suld mairry Van Amburgh；〃 continued Jean； 〃ye are just such a lass as
he is a lad。〃
Christie smiled proudly； was silent； but did not disown the comparison。
The little fishwife； unable to attract attention by pulling； opened her
box； and saying； 〃Lasses； I'll let ye see my presoner。 Hech！ he's
boenny！〃 pulled out a mouse by a string fastened to his tail and set him
in the midst for friendly admiration。
〃I dinna like itI dinna like it！〃 screamed Christie。 〃Jean； put it
awayit fears me； Jean！〃 This she uttered （her eyes almost starting from
her head with unaffected terror） at the distance of about eight yards；
whither she had arrived in two bounds that would have done no discredit
to an antelope。
〃Het；〃 said Jean； uneasily； 〃hae ye coowed you savage； to be scared at
the wee beastie？〃
Christie； looking askant at the animal； explained： 〃A moose is an awesome
beastit's no like a mon！〃 and still her eye was fixed by fascination
upon the four…footed danger。
Jean； who had not been herself in genuine tranquillity； now turned
savagely on the little Wombwelless。 〃An' div ye really think ye are to
come here wi' a' the beasts i' the Airk？ Come； awa ye go； the pair o'
ye。〃
These severe words； and a smart push； sent the poor little biped off
roaring； with the string over her shoulder； recklessly dragging the
terrific quadruped； which made fruitless grabs at the shingle。_Moral。_
Don't terrify bigger folk than yourself。
Christie had intended to go up to Edinburgh with her eighty pounds； but
there was more trouble in store this eventful day。
Flucker went out after dinner； and left her with Sandy Liston； who was in
the middle of a yarn； when some one came running in and told her Flucker
was at the pier crying for her。 She inquired what was the matter。 〃Come；
an' ye'll see；〃 was all the answer。 She ran down to the pier。 There was
poor Flucker lying on his back； he had slipped from the pier into a boat
that lay alongside； the fall was considerable； for a minute he had been
insensible； then he had been dreadfully sick； and now he was beginning to
feel his hurt； he was in great anguish； nobody knew the extent of his
injuries； he would let nobody touch him； all his cry was for his sister。
At last she came； they all made way for her； he was crying for her as she
came up。
〃My bairn！ my bairn！〃 cried she； and the poor little fellow smiled； and
tried to raise himself toward her。
She lifted him gently in her armsshe was powerful； and affection made
her stronger； she carried him in her arms all the way home； and laid him
on her own bed。 Willy Liston； her discarded suitor； ran for the surgeon。
There were no bones broken； but his ankle was severely sprained； and he
had a terrible bruise on the loins； his dark； ruddy face was streaked and
pale； but he never complained after he found himself at home。
Christie hovered round him； a ministering angel； applying to him with a
light and loving hand whatever could ease his pain； and he watched her
with an expression she had never noticed in his eye before。
At last； after two hours' silence； he made her sit in full view； and then
he spoke to her； and what think you was the subject of his discourse？
He turned to and told her； one after another； without preface； all the
loving things she had done to him ever since he was five years old。 Poor
boy； he had never shown much gratitude； but he had forgotten nothing；
literally nothing。
Christie was quite overcome with this unexpected trait； she drew him
gently to her bosom； and wept over him； and it was sweet to see a brother
and sister treat each other almost like lovers； as these two began to
dothey watched each other's eye so tenderly。
This new care kept the sister in her own house all the next day； but
toward the evening Jean； who knew her other anxiety； slipped in and
offered to take her place for an hour by Flucker's side； at the same time
she looked one of those signals which are too subtle for any but woman to
understand。
Christie drew her aside； and learned that Gatty and his mother were just
coming through from Leith； Christie ran for her eighty pounds； placed
them in her bosom； cast a hasty glance at a looking…glass； little larger
than an oyster…shell； and ran out。
〃Hech！ What pleased the auld wife will be to see he has a lass that can
mak auchty pund in a morning。〃
This was Christie's notion。
At sight of them she took out the banknotes； and with eyes glistening and
cheeks flushing she cried：
〃Oh； Chairles； ye'll no gang to jailI hae the siller！〃 and she offered
him the money with both hands； and a look of tenderness and modesty that
embellished human nature。
Ere he could speak； his mother put out her hand； and not rudely； but very
coldly； repelling Christie's arm； said in a freezing manner：
〃We are much obliged to you； but my son's own talents have rescued him
from his little embarrassment。〃
〃A nobleman has bought my picture；〃 said Gatty； proudly。
〃For one hundred and fifty pounds；〃 said the old lady； meaning to mark
the contrast between that sum and what Christie had in her hand。
Christie remained like a statue； with her arms extended； and the
bank…notes in her hand； her features workedshe had much ado not to cry；
and any one that had known the whole story； and seen this unmerited
repulse； would have felt for her； but her love came to her aid； she put
the notes in her bosom； sighed and said：
〃I would hae likeit to hae been the first； ye ken； but I'm real pleased。〃
〃But； mother；〃 said Gatty； 〃it was very kind of Christie all the same。
Oh； Christie！〃 said he； in a tone of despair。
At this kind word Christie's fortitude was sore tried； she turned away
her head； she was far too delicate to let them know who had sent Lord
Ipsden to buy the picture。
While she turned away； Mrs。 Gatty said in her son's ear：
〃Now； I have your solemn promise to do it here； and at once； you will
find me on the beach behind these boatsdo it。〃
The re