ade?" asked the General in a high squeaking voice. "If I had my
stick at some of you, tormenting a gallant old soldier!" And as he
spoke he lifted his cane by the middle and shook it at the limbs of the
affrighted youth.

"O Dugald, Dugald, you know none of the children of this town ever
annoyed the Major; it is only the keelies from the low-country who do
so. And this is not the boy to make a mock of any old gentleman, I am
sure."

"I know he'll make a noise and start me when I am thinking," said the
Cornal, still troubled. "Is it not very strange, Dugald, that women
must be aye bringing in useless weans off the street to make noise and
annoyance for their brothers?" He poked as he spoke with his stick at
Gilian's feet as he would at an animal crossing his path.

"It is a strange cantrip, Mary," said the General; "I suppose you'll be
going to give him something. It is give, give all the day in this house
like Sergeant Scott's cantiniers."

"Indeed and you need not complain of the giving," said Miss Mary: "there
was nobody gave with a greater extravagance than yourself when you had
it to give, and nobody sends more gangrels about the house than you."

"Give the boy his meat and let him go," said the Cornal roughly.

"He's not going," said Miss Mary, turning quite white and taking the
pin carefully out of her shawl and as carefully putting it in again. And
having done this quite unnecessary thing she slipped her hand down
and warmly clasped unseen the fingers of the boy in the folds of her
bombazine gown.

"Not going? I do not understand you, Mary; as you grow older you grow
stupider. Does she not grow stupider, Dugald?" said the Cornal.

"She does," said the General. "I think she does it to torment us, just."
He was tired by this discussion; he turned and walked to the parlour.

Miss Mary mustered all her courage, and speaking with great rapidity
explained the situation. The boy was the Ladyfield boy; the Paymaster
was going to keep him hereafter.

The Cornal stood listening to the story as one in a trance. There was a
little silence when she had done, and he broke it with a harsh laugh.

"Ah! and what is he going to make of this one?" he asked.

"That's to be seen," said Miss Mary; "he spoke of the army."

"Fancy that now!" said the Cornal with contempt. "Let me see him," he
added suddenly.

"Let me see the seeds of soldiery." He put out a hand and--not roughly
but still with more force than Gilian reli