to enjoy his dinner, during which Aunt Purdie insisted on refunding
the cost of his futile journey.

'Ye're ower guid to me,' he said awkwardly.

'Not at all, not at all, Macgregor. It is quite unmentionable,'
she returned with a majestic wave. 'Robert, give Macgregor some of
your choice cigars.'

In the train he smoked one of them, but finding it a trifle heady,
preserved the rest for presentation to his sergeant, whom he
greatly admired.

* * * * *

At 5.30 Christina was in Glasgow. Mrs. Purdie had commissioned her
to deliver two small parcels--'presents from Aberdeen'--to
Macgregor's sister and little brother, and she decided to fulfil
the errand before going home. Perhaps the decision was not
unconnected with a hope of obtaining some news of Macgregor. His
postcard had worried her. She felt she had gone too far and wanted
to tell him so. She would write to him the moment she got home,
and let her heart speak out for once. Pride was in abeyance. She
was all tenderness.

At the Robinson's house she received a warm welcome. Mrs. Robinson
had almost got over her secret fear of her future daughter-in-law.
Jeannie admired her intensely, and wee Jimsie frankly loved her.
Aunt Purdie's were not the only gifts she delivered.