that ye lea' the worms to come an' luik efter him. I doobt--I doobt
it winna be to you he'll gang at the lang last. There winna be room
for him aside ye in Awbrahawm's boasom. And syne to behave sae ill
to that winsome wife o' his! I dinna wonner 'at ye maun be up! Eh
na! But, sir, sin ye are up, I wish ye wad speyk to John Thamson no
to tak aff the day 'at I was awa' last ook, for 'deed I was verra
unweel, and bude to keep my bed.'

Robert was beginning to feel uneasy as to how he should get rid of
her, when she rose, and saying, 'Ay, ay, I ken it's sax o'clock,'
went out as she had come in. Robert followed, and saw her safe out
of the garden, but did not return to the factory.

So his father had behaved ill to his mother too!

'But what for hearken to the havers o' a dottled auld wife?' he said
to himself, pondering as he walked home.

Old Janet told a strange story of how she had seen the ghost, and
had had a long talk with him, and of what he said, and of how he
groaned and played the fiddle between. And finding that the report
had reached his grandmother's ears, Robert thought it prudent, much
to his discontent, to intermit his visits to the factory. Mrs.
Falconer, of course, received the rumour with indignant scorn, and
peremptorily refused to allow any examination of the premises.

But how have the violin by him and not hear her speak? One evening
the longing after her voice grow upon him till he could resist it no
longer. He shut the door of his garret-room, and, with Shargar by
him, took her out and began to play softly, gently--oh so softly, so