y.

'Ye're ower guid to me,' he said awkwardly.

'Not at all, not at all, Macgregor. It is quite unmentionable,'
she returned with a majestic wave. 'Robert, give Macgregor some of
your choice cigars.'

In the train he smoked one of them, but finding it a trifle heady,
preserved the rest for presentation to his sergeant, whom he
greatly admired.

* * * * *

At 5.30 Christina was in Glasgow. Mrs. Purdie had commissioned her
to deliver two small parcels--'presents from Aberdeen'--to
Macgregor's sister and little brother, and she decided to fulfil
the errand before going home. Perhaps the decision was not
unconnected with a hope of obtaining some news of Macgregor. His
postcard had worried her. She felt she had gone too far and wanted
to tell him so. She would write to him the moment she got home,
and let her heart speak out for once. Pride was in abeyance. She
was all tenderness.

At the Robinson's house she received a warm welcome. Mrs. Robinson
had almost got over her secret fear of her future daughter-in-law.
Jeannie admired her intensely, and wee Jimsie frankly loved her.
Aunt Purdie's were not the only gifts she delivered.

'Ye're hame suner nor ye intended,' said Mrs. Robinson, during tea,
which was partaken of without Mr. Robinson, who was 'extra busy'
over munitions. 'Was Miss Tod wantin' ye?'

'Macgreegor was wantin' her,' piped Jimsie. 'So was I.'

'Whisht, Jimsie,' Jeannie murmured, blushing more than Christina.

'We jist got hame frae Rothesay last nicht,' said Mrs. Robinson,
'so we ha'ena seen the laddie for a while.'

'He hasna wrote this week,' remarked Jeannie. 'But of course
_you'll_ ha'e heard frae him, Christina'--this with respectful
diffidence.

'He's been busy at the shooting' Christina replied, wishing she had
more news to give.

'I wisht I had a gun,' observed Jimsie. 'I wud shoot the whuskers
aff auld Tirpy. Jings, I wud that!'

'Dinna boast,' said his mother.

'What wud you shoot, Christina, if you had a gun?'

'I think I wud practise on a cocoa-nut, Jimsie,' she said, with a
small laugh.

After tea Mrs. Robinson took Christina into the parlour while
Jeannie tidied up. Presently the door bell rang, and Jimsie rushed
to meet the postman.

'It's for Macgreegor,' he announced, returning and handing a parcel
to his mother.

'I wonder wha's sendin' the laddie socks,' she said, feeling it.
'I best open it an' put his name on them. Ma