the big station, where everything was strange except the colour of
khaki, and found his way to the quiet hotel where his friends had
rooms.

And there on the steps was Uncle Purdie sunning himself and smoking
a richly-banded cigar--by order of his spouse.

'Preserve us!' exclaimed Uncle Purdie in sheer astonishment at the
sight of his nephew. 'Preserve us!' he repeated in quite another
tone--that of concern. 'But I'm rael glad to see ye, lad,' he went
on somewhat uneasily, 'an' yer aunt'll be unco pleased. Come awa'
in, come awa' in! Ye've gotten a bit leave, I preshume. An' ye'll
be needin' yer denner--eh? But we'll sune see to that. 'Mphm!
Ay! Jist so! Eh--I suppose ye hadna time to write or wire--but
what's the odds? Ye're welcome, Macgreegor, rael welcome.'

'Jist got leave this mornin'--three days,' Macgregor explained, not
a little relieved to have found his uncle alone to begin with.

'So I catched the first train I could.'

'Jist that, exactly so,' said Mr. Purdie with a heavy sigh that
seemed irrelevant. 'Weel, ma lad,' he resumed hurriedly, 'if ye
tak' a sate here, I'll awa' up the stair an' get yer aunt. She
generally has a bit snooze aboot this time--efter her meal, ye
ken--but----'

'Dinna fash her aboot me, Uncle Purdie.'

'Oh, but it--it's necessary to get her doon here. She'll maybe be