Mistress Jean Grant, and nearly wagged his tail off with pleasure.
Mistress Jeanie was set in a proud flutter when the Grand Leddy rang at
the lodge kitchen and asked if she and Bobby could have their tea there
with the old couple by the cozy grate fire.

They all drank tea from the best blue cups, and ate buttered scones and
strawberry jam on the scoured deal table. Bobby had his porridge and
broth on the hearth. The coals snapped in the grate and the firelight
danced merrily on the skylark's cage and the copper kettle. Mr. Brown
got out his fife and played "Bonnie Dundee." Wee, silver-white Bobby
tried to dance, but he tumbled over so lamentably once or twice that he
hung his head apologetically, admitting that he ought to have the sense
to know that his dancing days were done. He lay down and lolled and
blinked on the hearth until the Grand Leddy rose to go.

"I am on my way to Braemar to visit for a few days at Balmoral Castle. I
wish I could take Bobby with me to show him to the dear Queen."

"Preserve me!" cried Mistress Jeanie, and Mr. Brown's pet pipe was in
fragments on the hearth.

Bobby leaped upon her and whimpered, saying "Dinna gang, Leddy!" as
plainly as a little dog could say anything. He showed the pathos at
parting with one he was fond of, now, that an old and affectionate
person shows. He clung to her gown, rubbed his rough head under her
hand, and trotted disconsolately beside her to her waiting carriage. At
the very last she said, sadly:

"The Queen will have to come to Edinburgh to see Bobby."

"The bonny wee wad be a prood doggie, yer Leddyship," Mistress Jeanie
managed to stammer, but Mr. Brown was beyond speech.

The Grand Leddy said nothing. She looked at the foundation work of
Bobby's memorial fountain, swathed in canvas against the winter, and
waiting--waiting for the spring, when the waters of the earth should
be unsealed again; waiting until finis could be written to a story on a
bronze table-tomb; waiting for the effigy of a shaggy Skye terrier to be
cast and set up; waiting--

When the Queen came to see Bobby it was unlikely that he would know
anything about it.

He would know nothing of the crowds to gather there on a public
occasion, massing on the bridge, in Greyfriars Place, in broad Chambers
Street, and down Candlemakers Row--the magistrates and Burgh council,
professors and students from the University, soldiers from the Castle,
the neighboring nobility in carriages, farm