essness, gasping advice and
encouragement to each with a fine lack of favouritism.

'Wire in, wee yin! Try again, pipeshanks! Weel hit, Grocer! That
had him, Wullie!--ye'll be a corporal afore yer auntie! Haw, Mac,
that was a knock-oot, if it had struck! Cheer up, Private Thomson;
gi'e him the kidney punch on his whuskers! Guid stroke.
Grocer!--fair on his goods' entrance! We'll be payin' for to see
ye in pictur' hooses yet--the Brithers Basher! Gor, this is better
nor a funeral! Keep it up, lads!' And so forth.

But it was far too fast to last. A few minutes, and both were
utterly pumped. As though with mutual agreement, they paused
panting. Neither had gained any visible advantage.

'Nae blood yet,' remarked some one in tones of regret mingled with
hope.

'Never heed,' interposed Jake, humanely Tak' aff their gloves.
They've done enough. We'll ca' it a draw--or to be conteenued in
oor next dull evenin'--whichever they like. I hope you twa lads
'll never learn scienteefic boxin'. There's ower little fun in the
warld nooadays.'

Neither offered any resistance to the removal of the gloves.

'Shake han's, lads,' said Jake.

To Macgregor's surprise, Willie's hand was out before his own.

'I'm a leear if ye like,' said Willie, still panting, 'but I can
stan' up to ye noo!'

'So ye can,' Macgregor admitted--a little reluctantly perhaps, for
he had long been used to being the winner.

'If I wasna teetotal,' Willie added in a burst of generosity, 'I
wud stan' ye a drink.'

VIII

CORRESPONDENCE

_Macgregor to Christina_

MY DEAR CHRISTINA,--

I was looking for your letter the whole of yesterday, but it did
not come till this morning at 8.35 a.m., and I am sorry to say it
is not near as nice as I expected. Some parts is niceish, but
others is rotten. What for do you ask me if I have spotted many
pretty girls here, when you know I would not be for taking the
troubble of spoting any girl in the world but you, and besides they
are all terrible ugly here. Yesterday I seen 2 that made me feel
sick. Willie said they was on for being picked up, and he give a
wink at one of them, and she put out her tongue at him, but no more
happened. They was quite young girls, though hiddeous, but Willie
did not seem to mind their faces ['mugs' scored out].

Willie is greatly changed since the last few weeks. You would
scarcely know him, he is that fond of exercises. He is near as
strong as me. Th