To Macgregor's surprise, Willie's hand was out before his own.

'I'm a leear if ye like,' said Willie, still panting, 'but I can
stan' up to ye noo!'

'So ye can,' Macgregor admitted--a little reluctantly perhaps, for
he had long been used to being the winner.

'If I wasna teetotal,' Willie added in a burst of generosity, 'I
wud stan' ye a drink.'




VIII

CORRESPONDENCE

_Macgregor to Christina_

MY DEAR CHRISTINA,--

I was looking for your letter the whole of yesterday, but it did
not come till this morning at 8.35 a.m., and I am sorry to say it
is not near as nice as I expected. Some parts is niceish, but
others is rotten. What for do you ask me if I have spotted many
pretty girls here, when you know I would not be for taking the
troubble of spoting any girl in the world but you, and besides they
are all terrible ugly here. Yesterday I seen 2 that made me feel