said nothing, only he welcomed Margaret and
the doctor warmly, and seemed to be glad of their unspoken sympathy.
It had been stormy all day, but the wind had gone down, and a pale
moon glimmered above the dim, tumbling sea. All was quiet, not a
footfall, not a sound except the dull roar of the waves breaking upon
the beach.

Suddenly a woman's sharp cry cut the silence like a knife. It was
followed by sobs and shrieks and passing footsteps and the clamor of
many voices. Every one must have noticed how much more terrible
noises are at night than in the daytime; the silly laughter of
drunkards and fools, the maniac's shout, the piercing shriek of a
woman in distress, seem to desecrate its peaceful gloom, and mock the
slow, mystic panorama of the heavens. Tulloch felt unusually impressed
by this night-tumult, and early in the morning sent his servant out to
discover its meaning.

"It was Maggie Barefoot, sir; her man was drowned last night; she has
six bairns and not a bread-winner among them. But what then? Magnus
Tulloch went too, and he had four little lads--their mother died at
Lammas-tide. They'll be God's bairns now, for they have neither kith
nor kin. It is a sad business, I say that."

"Go and bring them here."

The order was given without consideration, and without any conscious
intention. He was amazed himself when he had uttered it. The man was
an old servant, and said hesitatingly, "Yes, but they are no kin of
thine."

"All the apples on the same tree have come from the same root, Bele;
and it is like enough that all the Tullochs will have had one
forbear. I would be a poor Tulloch to see one of the name wanting a
bite and sup. Yes, indeed."

He was very thoughtful after seeing the children, and when Dr. Balloch
came, he said to him at once: "Now, then, I will do what thou hast
told me to do--settle up my affairs with this world forever. Wilt thou
help me?"

"If I think thou does the right thing, I will help thee, but I do not
think it is right to give thy money to Margaret Vedder. She has enough
and to spare. 'Cursed be he that giveth unto the rich.' It was Mahomet
and Anti-Christ that said the words, but for all that they are good
words."

"I have no kin but a fifth cousin in Leith; he is full of gold and
honor. All that I have would be a bawbee to him. But this is what I
think, my money is Shetland money, made of Shetland fishers, and it
ought to stay in Shetland."

"I think that too."

"Well