ing dirge and struck up loudly the lively air that told again and
again of the mirth produced when "Jinny banged the Weaver." Scotty
raised his head and looked across the pasture-field. That tune always
ushered Weaver Jimmy upon the stage, and there he was, coming over the
field, easily recognisable by his huge feet. Before he reached them,
the MacDonalds could see that his face was shining with unusual joy.

"Come away, Jimmie, man," called Big Malcolm, "it will be a warm night,
whatever."

But the Weaver was too happy to notice anything wrong with the weather.
"Hoots, it will be a fine night for all that, a fine night; and how
will you be yourself, Mrs. MacDonald?"

"Perhaps you'll find it chilly enough if you go round by Kirsty's,
Jimmie," suggested Rory.

"Hooch!" Jimmie flung one leg over the other with more than usual
vigour. "And that is jist where you will be mistaken, Rory Malcolm, I
will jist be coming from there," he admitted with an embarrassed quiver.

"That's what you're generally doin'; how fast did you come?"

"Whisht, whisht, Rory," cried his mother. "It's the foolish lad he is,
Jimmie, don't be listening to him. And indeed it's Kirsty John will be
the fine girl, so good and so kind to her poor mother. And how would
the mother be to-night, Jimmie?"

"Oh, jist about the same, jist about the same; but," he lowered his
voice confidentially, "what do you suppose she would be doin' the
night?" "She" was understood to mean Kirsty; for Jimmie never dared
take her name upon his tongue.

"Giving you a clout on the head, most like," ventured Rory.

The Weaver did not deign to notice him. "She would be sending me over
here on a message!" he cried, and his face shone as if illuminated from
within.

"Hech! yon's good news, Jimmie!" cried Big Malcolm. "You're comin' on!"

"She'll be sendin' you on a message to another world some o' these
days," said Callum coming to the door, looking very handsome, ready for
departure.

"Oh, indeed it's yourself had better be lookin' after your own
sparkin', Callum Fiach!" cried Weaver Jimmie jovially. "You'll not be
likely to find it as easy as I will, whatever."

Callum turned away with an embarrassed laugh, Rory following him. He
did not answer Weaver Jimmie's raillery, as he would have done under
other circumstances, for he had caught a look on his father's face that
betokened trouble. Big Malcolm's eyes flashed angrily and he took his
pipe from his