grannie'; but when he thought she did not see him, slipped it under
the table and into his pocket. She saw him well enough, however,
and although she would not condescend to ask him why he put it away
instead of eating it, the endeavour to discover what could have been
his reason for so doing cost her two hours of sleep that night. She
would always be at the bottom of a thing if reflection could reach
it, but she generally declined taking the most ordinary measures to
expedite the process.

When Robert had finished his tea, instead of rising to get his books
and betake himself to his lessons, in regard to which his
grandmother had seldom any cause to complain, although she would
have considered herself guilty of high treason against the boy's
future if she had allowed herself once to acknowledge as much, he
drew his chair towards the fire, and said:

'Grandmamma!'

'He's gaein' to tell me something,' said Mrs. Falconer to herself.
'Will 't be aboot the puir barfut crater they ca' Shargar, or will
't be aboot the piece he pat intil 's pooch?'

'Weel, laddie?' she said aloud, willing to encourage him.

'Is 't true that my gran'father was the blin' piper o' Portcloddie?'

'Ay, laddie; true eneuch. Hoots, na! nae yer grandfather, but yer
father's grandfather, laddie--my husband's father.'

'Hoo cam that aboot?'