e serious
tone, "we must hev one like this made for poor Tuncan."

As this was the first reference which McKay had made to his younger son
since his illness--with the exception of the daily inquiry as to his
health--it was hailed as an evidence that a change for the better was
taking place in the old man's mind. For up to that period no one had
received any encouragement to speak of, or enter into conversation
about, Duncan junior.

"You are right," returned Dan. "I have been thinking of that, and have
even laid in the wood to make a similar chair for him. But I fear he
won't be able to use it for some time to come. Elspie was thinking, if
you don't object, to have your bedroom changed to one of the rooms on
the ground floor, so that you could be wheeled into the garden when so
inclined."

"Yes, daddy," said Elspie, taking up the discourse; "we can put you into
the room that corresponds with Duncan's room at the other end of the
house, so that you and he will be able to meet after your long illness.
But there is another contrivance which Dan has been making for us--not
for you, but for Old Peg. Tell daddy about it, Dan."

"Like the chair," said Dan, "it is no novelty, except in this
out-o'-the-way place. You see, I have noticed that Old Peg is rather
deaf--"

"Well, Tan," interrupted old McKay with a benignant smile, "it iss not
much observation that you will be requirin' to see that!"

"Just so. Well, I also observed that it gives Duncan some trouble to
speak loud enough to her. So I have invented a sort of ear-trumpet--a
tin pipe with an ear-piece at one end and a mouth-piece at the other,
which I hope may make things easier."

"Hev ye not tried it yet?" asked McKay.

"Not yet. I've only just brought it."

"Go down, lad, an' try it at wanse, an' let me know what the upshot
iss."

Down they all went accordingly, leaving Duncan senior alone.

They found Old Peg in the act of administering beef-tea refreshment--or
something of that sort--to the invalid. Peter Davidson and Archie
Sinclair were there also, paying him a visit.

"Hallo, Little Bill!" said Archie as his brother entered. "You here! I
guessed as much. Your passion for nursing since you attended Dan is
outrageous. You do more nursing in this house, I do believe, than
Elspie and Jessie and Old Peg put together. What d'ee mean by it, Bill?
I get no good of you at all now!"

"I like it, Archie, and I'm training myself to nurse you wh