le long enough, and if I leave it
still unused, I shall be doing wrong, and there are things I have to
do with it which ought to be set about immediately. I am sorry to
seem importunate, but if by twelve o'clock you have not gone with me
to Mr. Torrie, I will go to Messrs. Hope & Waver, who will tell me
what I ought to do next, in order to be put in possession. It makes
me unhappy to write like this, but I am not a child any longer, and
having a man's work to do, I cannot consent to be treated as a
child. I will do as I say. I am, dear Mr. Sclater, your
affectionate ward, Gilbert Galbraith."

He took the letter to the study, and having given it to Mr. Sclater,
withdrew. The minister might have known by this time with what sort
of a youth he had to deal! He came down instantly, put the best
face on it he could, said that if Sir Gilbert was so eager to take
up the burden, he was ready enough to cast it off, and they would go
at once to Mr. Torrie.

With the lawyer, Gibbie insisted on understanding everything, and
that all should be legally arranged as speedily as possible. Mr.
Torrie saw that, if he did not make things plain, or gave the least
cause for doubt, the youth would most likely apply elsewhere for
advice, and therefore took trouble to set the various points, both
as to the property and the proceedings necessary, before him in the
clearest manner.

"Thank you," said Gibbie, through Mr. Sclater. "Please remember I am
more accountable for this money than you, and am compelled to
understand."--Janet's repeated exhortations on the necessity of
sending for the serpent to take care of the dove, had not been lost
upon him.

The lawyer being then quite ready to make him an advance of money,
they went with him to the bank, where he wrote his name, and
received a cheque book. As they left the bank, he asked the
minister whether he would allow him to keep his place in his house
till the next session, and was almost startled at finding how his
manner to him was changed. He assured Sir Gilbert, with a deference
and respect both painful and amusing, that he hoped he would always
regard his house as one home, however many besides he might now
choose to have.

So now at last Gibbie was free to set about realizing a
long-cherished scheme.

The repairs upon the Auld Hoose o' Galbraith were now nearly
finished. In consequence of them, some of the tenants had had to
leave, and Gibbie now gave them all notice to