a poor man, and I haven't chick or child to look
after. None of you has ever had a proper chance or been right fed or
educated or taken care of. I've just the one thing to say to you.
From now on you're my bairns, every one of you. You're fine laddies,
and I'm going to see that you turn into fine men. There's the stuff in
you to make Generals and Provosts--ay, and Prime Ministers, and Dod!
it'll not be my blame if it doesn't get out."

Dougal listens gravely and again salutes.

"I've brought ye a message," he says. "We've just had a meetin' and
I've to report that ye've been unanimously eleckit Chief Die-Hard.
We're a' hopin' ye'll accept."

"I accept," Dickson replies. "Proudly and gratefully I accept."

The last scene is some days later, in a certain southern suburb of
Glasgow. Ulysses has come back to Ithaca, and is sitting by his
fireside, waiting for the return of Penelope from the Neuk Hydropathic.
There is a chill in the air, so a fire is burning in the grate, but the
laden tea-table is bright with the first blooms of lilac. Dickson, in a
new suit with a flower in his buttonhole, looks none the worse for his
travels, save that there is still sticking-plaster on his deeply
sunburnt brow. He waits impatiently with his eye on the black marble
timepiece, and he fingers something in his pocket.

Presently the sound of wheels is heard, and the pea-hen voice of Tibby
announces the arrival of Penelope. Dickson rushes to the door, and at
the threshold welcomes his wife with a resounding kiss. He leads her
into the parlour and settles her in her own chair.

"My! but it's nice to be home again!" she says. "And everything that
comfortable. I've had a fine time, but there's no place like your own
fireside. You're looking awful well, Dickson. But losh! What have you
been doing to your head?"

"Just a small tumble. It's very near mended already. Ay, I've had a
grand walking tour, but the weather was a wee bit thrawn. It's nice to
see you back again, Mamma. Now that I'm an idle man you and me must
take a lot of jaunts together."

She beams on him as she stays herself with Tibby's scones, and when the
meal is ended, Dickson draws from his pocket a slim case. The jewels
have been restored to Saskia, but this is one of her own which she has
bestowed upon Dickson as a parting memento. He opens the case and
reveals a necklet of emeralds, any one of which is worth half the
street.

"This is a present for