glected volumes. The moon
shining through the clouded window revealed rows of books all about
him, of which he could not read even the names. But he was in no want
of the interest they might have afforded him. His thoughts turned to
Kate. She always behaved to him so that he felt both hurt and repelled,
and found it impossible to go to her so often as he would. Yet now when
seated in the solitude of this refuge, his thoughts went back to her
tenderly; for to her they always returned like birds to their tree,
from all the regions whither the energetic dispersion of Mr Cupples
might have scattered them for their pickings of intellectual crumbs.
Now, however, it was but as to a leafless wintry tree, instead of a
nest bowered in green leaves. Yet he was surprised to find that he was
not ten times more miserable; the fact being that, as he had no reason
to fear that she preferred any one else, there was plenty of moorland
space left for Hope to grow upon. And Alec's was one of those natures
that sow Hope everywhere. All that such need is room to sow. Take that
away and they are desperate. Alec did not know what advantage Beauchamp
had been taking of the Professor's invitation to visit him.

After a time the tumult in the street gradually died away, and Alec
thought he might venture to return to Mr Cupples. Clambering back over
the roofs, he entered, and found the inner door of the closet broken
from its hinges. As he moved it aside, a cry of startled fear
discovered that his landlady was in the room.

"Guid preserve's, Mr Forbes!" she cried; "whaur come ye frae, and what
hae ye been aboot, to raise the haill toon upo' ye? I trust ye hae nae
legs or airms o' a cauld corp aboot ye. The fowk i' the back streets
canna bide that. An' I winna alloo 't i' my hoose. Jist luik at puir Mr
Cupples here."

Mr Cupples lay on the bed, with his head bound in a bloody bandage. He
had fallen upon the fender, and a bad cut had been the consequence. He
held out his hand to Alec, and said feebly,

"Bantam, I thocht ye had yer neck thrawn or this time. Hoo, the muckle
deil! did ye win oot o' their grips?"

"By playin' the cat a wee," answered Alec.

"It's the first time," remarked Mr Cupples, "I ever kent I had a door
to the lift (sky). But faith! the sowl o' me was nearhan' gaein' out at
this new ane i' my ain riggin. Gin it hadna been for the guidwife here,
'at cam' up, efter the clanjamfrie had taen themsel's aff, an' fand me
lying upo