that astonished the bewildered
Janet.

"Bide a wee, Norman, man. Harry, you daft laddie, where are you going?
Now dinna throw awa' good pennies for such green trash." For Harry had
made a descent on a fruit stall, and his pockets were turned inside out
in a twinkling.

"Saw ever anybody such cheatry," exclaimed Janet, as the dark lady
pocketed the coins with a grin, quite unmindful of her expostulations.
"Harry lad, a fool and his money is soon parted. And look! see here,
you hae set down the basket in the dubs, and your sister's bed gowns
will be all wet. Man! hae you no sense?"

"Nae muckle, I doubt, Janet," said Harry, with an exaggerated gesture of
humility and penitence, turning the basket upside down, to ascertain the
extent of the mischief. "It's awfu' like Scotch dubs, now isn't it?
Never mind, I'll give it a wash at the next pump, and it 'ill he none
the worse. Give me Will's hand, and I'll take care of him."

"Take care o' yourself, and leave Will with me. But, dear me, where's
Mr Allan?" For their escort had disappeared, and she stood alone, with
the baskets and the boys in the rainy street. Before her consternation
had reached a climax, however, Ruthven reappeared, having safely
bestowed the others in their lodgings. Like a discreet lad, as Janet
was inclined to consider him, he possessed himself of Will, and some of
the bundles, and led the way. At the door stood the girls, anxiously
looking out for them.

If their hostess had, at first, some doubt as to the sanity of her new
lodgers, there was little wonder. Such a confusion of tongues her
American ears had not heard before. Graeme condoled with Will, who was
both wet and weary. Janet searched for missing bundles, and bewailed
things in general. Marian was engaged in a friendly scuffle for an
apple, and Allan was tossing Rosie up to the ceiling, while Norman,
perched on the bannisters high above them all, waved his left hand,
bidding farewell, with many words, to an imaginary Scotland, while with
his right he beckoned to the "brave new world" which was to be the scene
of his wonderful achievements and triumphs.

The next day rose bright and beautiful. Mr Elliott had gone to stay
with his friend Mr Caldwell, and Janet was over head and ears in a
general "sorting" of things, and made no objections when it was proposed
that the boys and Graeme should go out with Allan Ruthven to see the
town. It is doubtful whether there was ever so m