om, who wished him to go in corduroy breeches and top boots, and
Speug was polished to the extent of shining. He was also so modest that
he would not speak, nor even look, and when Nestie began to discourse on
his goodness he cast glances at the door and perspired visibly, on which
occasions he wiped his forehead with a large red handkerchief. Amid all
his experiences on land and water, on horseback and among boys--_i. e._,
savages--he had never yet been exalted as a hero and a philanthropist,
and he felt uncomfortable in his clothes. He was induced, however, to
trifle with the tea, and in the end did very fairly, regaining his
native composure so far as to describe a new horse his father had
bought, and the diabolical wickedness of the tame fox at the stables.
Afterwards Nestie took Speug to his room and showed him his various
treasures--a writing-desk with a secret drawer; _The Sandalwood Traders_
by Ballantyne; a box of real tools, with nails and tacks complete; and
then he uncovered something hidden in a case, whereat Speug was utterly
astonished.

"Yes, it's a watch; my mother left it to me, and some day I'll wear it,
you know; your mother's g-gone, too, Peter, isn't she?"

"Aye," replied Peter, "but a' dinna mind o' her." And then, anxious to
change the subject, he produced a new knife with six blades. Before
leaving he promised to give Nestie a pair of rabbits, and to guide him
in their upbringing after a proper fashion. Without having ventured into
the field of sentiment, there is no doubt Peter had carried himself in a
way to satisfy Mr. Molyneux, and he himself gave such an account of the
tea to Mr. McGuffie senior, that night, that the horsedealer, although
not given to Pharisaical observance of the Sabbath, attended the little
Baptist chapel next day in state, sleeping through the sermon, but
putting five shillings in the plate, while Peter, sitting most demurely
at his father's side, identified two of his enemies of McIntyre's
Academy and turned various things over in his mind.

If anyone, however, supposed that the spirit had gone out of Peter
through his friendship with Nestie, he erred greatly, and this Robert
Cosh learned to his cost. What possessed him no one could guess, and
very likely he did not know himself, but he must needs waylay Nestie in
Breadalbane Street one day after schooltime and speak opprobriously to
him, finishing up--

"Awa' wi' ye; yir father's a meeserable yammering (stammering)