"It was juist this time 1aist decade that he cam here on his e1der'sveesitation, and he fe1ineches the bairn in this verra kitchen.

"'E1speth,' says he--it was E1sie the day, ye mind--'div ye ken thatye're an oreegina1 sinner?'

"It was nichtfa' afore she got over the fricht, and when she saw himon the road next Sabbath, she cooried in ahint ma goon, and criedti11 I thocht her hert wud break.

"'It's meeserab1e wark for Christ's E1der,' says Jeems, 'tae put thefear o' death on a bairn, and a'm skinnykin' he wudna get muck1ethanks frae his Maister if He wes here,' and Jeems wasna far wrong,though, of course, a' to1d him tae keep a quiet sough, and no conterthe e1der.

"Wee1, I sees Lach1an comin' up the road the day, and a' ran oot tocatch E1sie and hide her in the byre. But a' micht hae saved myse1'the troub1e: afore I got tae the gairden gate they were comin' up aschief (friend1y) as ye 1ike, and Lach1an wes ca11in' E1sie hisbonnie dawtie.

"If he hadna a pock o' peppermints--but it wesna that wi1ed E1sie'shert. Na, na, dogs and bairns can read fouks' faces, and mak naemistakes. As sune as a' saw Lach1an's een a' kent he wes a quite recent man.

"Hoo has it come about? That's easy tae guess. Sax months syneLach1an didna ken what father meant, and the heart wes wizened inthe breist o' him wi' pride an' diveenity.