icht
change. It's an awfu'-like place; man!'--and Geordie began to warm
up--'ye can juist smell the sulphur when ye gang in. But I dinna care
aboot thae Temperance Soceeities, wi' their pledges an' havers; an'
I canna see what hairm can come till a man by takin' a bottle o' guid
Glenlivet hame wi' him. I canna bide thae teetotal buddies.'

Geordie's speech was followed by loud applause, partly appreciative of
Geordie himself, but largely sympathetic with his position.

Two or three men followed in the same strain advocating a league for
mutual improvement and social purposes, but without the teetotal pledge;
they were against the saloon, but didn't see why they should not take a
drink now and then.

Finally the manager rose to support his 'friend, Mistah--ah--Cwafoad,'
ridiculing the idea of a total abstinence pledge as fanatical and indeed
'absuad.' He was opposed to the saloon, and would like to see a club
formed, with a comfortable club-room, books, magazines, pictures, games,
anything, 'dontcheknow, to make the time pass pleasantly'; but it was
'absuad to ask men to abstain fwom a pwopah use of--aw--nouwishing
dwinks,' because some men made beasts of themselves. He concluded by
offering $50.00 towards the support of such a club.

The current of feeling was setting strongly against the total abstinence
idea, and Craig's face was hard and his eyes gleamed like coals. Then he
did a bit of generalship. He proposed that since they had the two plans
clearly before them they should take a few minutes' intermission in
which to make up their minds, and he was sure they would be glad to have
Mrs. Mavor sing. In the interval the men talked in groups, eagerly, even
fiercely, hampered seriously in the forceful expression of their opinion
by the presence of Mrs. Mavor, who glided from group to group, dropping
a word here and a smile there. She reminded me of a general riding along
the ranks, bracing his men for the coming battle. She paused beside
Geordie, spoke earnestly for a few moments, while Geordie gazed solemnly
at her, and then she came back to Billy in the corner near me. What she
was saying I could not hear, but poor Billy was protesting, spreading
his hands out aimlessly before him, but gazing at her the while in
dumb admiration. Then she came to me. 'Poor Billy, he was good to my
husband,' she said softly, 'and he has a good heart.'

'He's not much to look at,' I could not help saying.

'The oyster hides its pea