he spoke. "We have done with talk of yonder ghost-bogle mine. But I must
trouble you yet with a word of my own, which is partly to justify me
before you. This it is--that, even at the time of Stanley's flitting, I
set it down in black and white that he was to halve my gear wi' Oscar,
share and share alike. I aye likit the boy weel. From this day all is
changit; Oscar shall hae neither plack nor bawbee of mine; all goes to my
wife's nephew, Stanley Mitchell, as is set down in due form in the bit
testament that is waiting without; bating only some few sma' bequests for
old kindness. It is but loath I am to poison our mirth with the name of
the man Oscar; the deil will hae him to be brandered; he is fast grippit,
except he be cast out as an orra-piece, like the smith in the Norroway
tale. When ye are come to your own land, Mr. Johnson, ye will find that
brockle-faced stot there afore you; and I trust ye will comb him weel.
Heckle him finely, and spare not; but ere ye have done wi' him, for my
sake drop a word in his lug to come nae mair to Vesper. When all's said,
the man is of my wife's blood and bears her name; I would not have that
name publicly disgracit. They were a kindly folk, the Mitchells. I
thought puirly of theem for a wastrel crew when I was young. But now I am
old, I doubt their way was as near right as mine. You will tell him for
me, Mr. Johnson, to name one who shall put a value on his gear, and I
shall name another; and what they agree upon I shall pay over to his
doer, and then may I never hear of him more--unless it be of ony glisk of
good yet in him, the which I shall be most blithe to hear. And so let
that be my last word of Oscar. Cornelius, bring in the lawyer body, and
let us be ower wi' it; for I think it verra needfu' that the two lads
should even pack their mails and take train this day for the West. You'll
have an eye on this young spark, Mr. Boland? And gie him a bit word of
counsel from time to time, should ye see him temptit to whilly-whas and
follies? I fear me he is prone to insubordination."

"I'll watch over him, sir," laughed Boland.

"I'll keep him in order. And if Miss Selden should have a message--or
anything--to send, perhaps--"

Miss Selden blushed and laughed.

"No, thank you!" she said. "I'll--I'll send it by Mr. Johnson."

The will was brought in. McClintock affixed his signature in a firm round
hand; the others signed as witnesses.

"Man Johnson, will ye bide behind for a wo