hink that will settle
her," he observed with a pawky smile, as his housekeeper shut the door
with unnecessary haste.

Half an hour afterwards, David, mixing another glass of toddy, drew
his chair closer to the fire, and said, "Uncle John, I want to speak
to you."

"Speak on, laddie;" but David noticed that even with the permission,
cautious curves settled round his uncle's eyes, and his face assumed
that business-like immobility which defied his scrutiny.

"I have had a very serious talk with Robert Leslie; he is thinking of
buying Alexander Hastie out."

"Why not think o' buying out Robert Napier, or Gavin Campbell, or
Clydeside Woolen Works? A body might as weel think o' a thousand
spindles as think o' fifty."

"But he means business. An aunt, who has lately died in Galloway, has
left him L2,000."

"That isna capital enough to run Sandy Hastie's mill."

"He wants me to join him."

"And how will that help matters? Twa thousand pounds added to Davie
Callendar will be just L2,000."

"I felt sure you would lend me L2,000; and in that case it would be a
great chance for me. I am very anxious to be--"

"Your ain maister."

"Not that altogether, uncle, although you know well the Callendars
come of a kind that do not like to serve. I want to have a chance to
make money."

"How much of your salary have you saved?"

"I have never tried to save anything yet, uncle, but I am going to
begin."

The old man sat silent for a few moments, and then said, "I wont do
it, Davie."

"It is only L2,000, Uncle John."

"_Only_ L2,000! Hear the lad! Did ye ever mak L2,000? Did ye ever save
L2,000? When ye hae done that ye'll ne'er put in the adverb, Davie.
_Only L2,000, indeed!_"

"I thought you loved me, uncle."

"I love no human creature better than you. Whatna for should I not
love you? You are the only thing left to me o' the bonnie brave
brother who wrapped his colors round him in the Afghan Pass, the
brave-hearted lad who died fighting twenty to one. And you are whiles
sae like him that I'm tempted--na, na, that is a' byganes. I will not
let you hae the L2,000, that is the business in hand."

"What for?"

"If you will hear the truth, that second glass o' whiskey is reason
plenty. I hae taken my ane glass every night for forty years, and I
hae ne'er made the ane twa, except New Year's tide."

"That is fair nonsense, Uncle John. There are plenty of men whom you
trust for more than L2,000 who can take four glas