had time to make up her mind as to her duty with regard to Shargar;
and the more she thought about it, the more she admired the conduct
of her grandson, and the better she saw that it would be right to
follow his example. No doubt she was the more inclined to this
benevolence that she had as it were received her grandson back from
the jaws of death.

When the two lads entered, from her arm-chair Mrs. Falconer examined
Shargar from head to foot with the eye of a queen on her throne, and
a countenance immovable in stern gentleness, till Shargar would
gladly have sunk into the shelter of the voluminous kilt from the
gaze of those quiet hazel eyes.

At length she spoke:

'Robert, tak him awa'.'

'Whaur'll I tak him till, grannie?'

'Tak him up to the garret. Betty 'ill ha' ta'en a tub o' het water
up there 'gen this time, and ye maun see that he washes himsel' frae
heid to fut, or he s' no bide an 'oor i' my hoose. Gang awa' an'
see till 't this minute.'

But she detained them yet awhile with various directions in regard
of cleansing, for the carrying out of which Robert was only too glad
to give his word. She dismissed them at last, and Shargar by and by
found himself in bed, clean, and, for the first time in his life,
between a pair of linen sheets--not altogether to his satisfaction,
for mere order and comfort were substituted for adventure and