ery thought of the whisky.

"A lee!" cried the travelling merchant, touched at the suggestion of
such deceit. "He daurna do sic a thing, else his shop would be gutted.
Na, na, it reads plain as a pikestaff; ye pay elevenpence halfpenny and
ye get a pound of tea and a glass of whisky. I count it handsome o' the
Bailie; and if they didna say he was a teetotaler! It's awfu' how a man
is abused."

"He gave me six days in the court," said Jess Mitchell, who had had a
difference of opinion with another lady in the Vennel and received the
Bailie's best attention from the Bench, "and if I hadna to hear him
preach a sermon as long as my leg besides--confound him for a
smooth-tongued, psalm-singin', bletherin' old idiot! But I bear him no
grudge; I'll hae a taste o' that whisky, though I'm no mindin' so much
about the tea. The sooner we're at the place the better, for I'll be
bound there'll be more tea bought this day in Muirtown than a' the last
year." And there was a general feeling that the Vennel had better make
no delay, lest some other locality should obtain the first call.

As London John went on his way the news spread through the back streets
and closes, and the Bailie's generous invitation fell on responsive
ears. And if any person was inclined to doubt there was the
advertisement in plain terms, and over the board with its engaging news
the austere and unmoved countenance of London John. That worthy could
give no information about the remarkable placard, not even from whom he
received it; but he was quite sure that he was to take it through the
Vennel and neighbouring streets for two hours, and that he had received
a shilling for his labour, which he proposed to spend at Bailie
MacConachie's when his task was done. He also explained that in London,
where he used to reside, whisky ran like water, and tea could be had for
the asking. But his hearers had no interest that day in London.

It struck the Bailie as he returned from midday dinner, and long before
he reached St. Andrew's Street, that something was happening, and he
wondered whether they were changing the cavalry at the barracks. People
looked curiously at him, and having made as though they would have
spoken, passed on, shaking their heads. When he turned into the familiar
street, down which he was accustomed to parade with a double weight of
dignity, an enlivening spectacle met his eyes. Every shopkeeper was out
at his door, and would indeed have been along