tuik an ill-faured dame i' the bed i' the garret.'

'Cud it be his mither?' thought Robert in bewilderment; but he
recovered himself in a moment, and answered,

'Shargar may be a quean efter a', for onything 'at I ken to the
contrairy; but I aye tuik him for a loon. Faith, sic a quean as
he'd mak!'

And careless to resist the ludicrousness of the idea, he burst into
a loud fit of laughter, which did more to reassure his grannie than
any amount of protestation could have done, however she pretended to
take offence at his ill-timed merriment.

Seeing his grandmother staggered, Robert gathered courage to assume
the offensive.

'But, granny! hoo ever Betty, no to say you, cud hae driven oot a
puir half-stervit cratur like Shargar, even supposin' he oucht to
hae been in coaties, and no in troosers--and the mither o' him run
awa' an' left him--it's mair nor I can unnerstan.' I misdoobt me
sair but he's gane and droont himsel'.'

Robert knew well enough that Shargar would not drown himself without
at least bidding him good-bye; but he knew too that his grandmother
could be wrought upon. Her conscience was more tender than her
feelings; and this peculiarity occasioned part of the mutual
non-understanding rather than misunderstanding between her grandson
and herself. The first relation she bore to most that came near her
was one of severity and rebuke; but underneath her cold outside lay