ailie MacFarlane's shop window, and
examining with interest the ancient furniture exposed, at the very time
when that worthy magistrate came out and questioned Dr. Manley "How
things were going up-bye wi' the maister?"

"Not well, bailie, not well at all. I don't like the case; it looks bad,
very bad indeed, and I'm not a croaker. Disease is gone, and he's a
strong man, not a stronger in Muirtown than MacKinnon; but he has lost
interest in things, and isn't making an effort to get better; just lying
quiet and looking at you--says he's taking a rest, and if we don't get
him waked up, I tell you, Bailie, it will be a long one."

"Michty," said the Bailie, overcome with astonishment at the thought of
Bulldog dying, as it were, of gentleness.

"Yes, yes," said Manley; "but that's just the way with those strong,
healthy men, who have never known a day's sickness till they are old;
they break up suddenly. And he'll be missed. Bailie, Bulldog didn't
thrash you and me, else we would have been better men; but he has
attended to our boys."

"He has been verra conscientious," and the Bailie shook his head, sadly
mourning over a man who had laid down his life in discharge of
discipline. But the boys departed without remark, and Speug loosened the
strap of Bauldie's books, so that they fell in a heap upon the street,
whereat there was a brisk interchange of ideas, and then the company
went on its way rejoicing. So callous is a boy.

Nestie was not at school that day, and perhaps that was the reason that
Speug grew sulky and ill-tempered, taking offence if anyone looked at
him, and picking quarrels in the corridors, and finally disappearing
during the dinner-hour. It was supposed that he had broken bounds and
gone to Woody Island, that forbidden Paradise of the Seminary, and that
while the class was wasting its time with Byles, Peter was playing the
Red Indian. He did not deny the charge next day, and took an hour's
detention in the afternoon with great equanimity, but at the time he was
supposed to be stalking Indians behind the trees, and shooting them as
they floated down the river on a log, he was lying among the hay in his
father's stable, hidden from sight, and--as sure as death--Speug was
trying to pray for Bulldog.

The virtues of Mr. McGuffie senior were those of the natural man, and
Mr. McGuffie junior had never been present at any form of family
prayers, nor had he attended a Sunday-school, nor had he sat under any