them, and
it all had to be gone over, especially the news from Scotland.

Store Thompson's wife, a bright, little red-checked woman came hustling
in to greet Big Malcolm, and ask him in for a cup of tea. "Ah've had
the Captain an' his sister an' the wee leddy to denner," she whispered
proudly, "an' they'll jist be goin' in a minit, an' ye'll come an' have
a cup o' tea with them, jist."

But Big Malcolm, who had arisen at her invitation, suddenly sat down
again. His face darkened, and he stoutly refused the joint invitations
of husband and wife. Then the lady espied Scotty in his corner, and
bore down upon him; she secured a handful of pink "bull's-eyes" from a
jar behind the counter, and slipped them into his chubby fist, patted
his curly head and declared he was "jist Callum over again." And
Scotty smiled up at her, well pleased at being likened to his hero; but
when she caught his face between her hands and tried to kiss him, he
dodged successfully; for, now that he was a big boy and going to
school, not even Granny might kiss him in public.

When she had trotted back to her guests in the house, Scotty caught a
few words of the conversation that aroused his interest.

"Ye hae the boys in wi' ye the day, Malcolm?" Store Thompson asked,
with a note of anxiety in his voice.

"Yes?" Big Malcolm looked up inquiringly.

"Oh, Ah suppose it's jist naething, jist a--a triviality, like; but Ah
see there's a great crood frae the Oa, the day, an' jist as many
Murphys an' Connors; an' Ah heerd a lot o' wild talk aboot Fenians, an'
the like. They would be sayin' Pat Murphy was a Fenian; an' that Tam
Caldwell would be for sendin' him oot o' the Glen. Ah'm hopin'
there'll be nae trouble."

Big Malcolm's face was full of anxiety. "Indeed, I will be hopin' so
too," he said in an embarrassed tone. "You will be knowin' my
weakness. I would not be hearin' about it. I hope the lads----"

"Oh, Ah suppose it's jist naething," said Store Thompson reassuringly.
"Indeed it's yersel' that's past all sich things as yon, Malcolm, never
fear."

But Big Malcolm shook his head; for years he had purposely avoided the
Glen, to be out of the way of temptation; for the sound of strife was
to him like the bugle call to a war charger. He fidgeted in his seat
and looked anxiously towards the door.

Scotty went over to the window and stood watching the crowds of men
come and go across the street.

He could not quite make out what wa