She had not to wait long. A sound of rushing came through the heather,
and in a moment or two, a fine collie, with long, silky, wavy coat of
black and brown, and one white spot on his face, shot out of the
heather, sprang upon her, and, setting his paws on her shoulders, began
licking her face. She threw her arms round him, and addressed him in
words of fondling rebuke:--

'Ye ill-mennered tyke!' she said; 'what richt hae ye to tak the place
o' yer betters? Gang awa doon wi' ye, and wait. What for sud ye tak
advantage o' your fower legs to his twa, and him the maister o' ye!
But, eh man, ye're a fine doggie, and I canna bide the thoucht 'at yer
langest day maun be sae short, and tak ye awa hame sae lang afore the
lave o' 's!'

While she scolded, she let him caress her as he pleased. Presently he
left her, and going a yard or two away, threw himself on the grass with
such _abandon_ as no animal but a weary dog seems capable of reaching.
He had made haste to be first that he might caress her before his
master came; now he heard him close behind, and knew his opportunity
over.

Stephen came next out of the heather, creeping to Kirsty's feet on
all-fours. He was a gaunt, longbacked lad, who, at certain seasons
undetermined, either imagined himself the animal he imitated, or had
some notion of being required, or, possibly, compelled to behave like a
dog. When the fit was upon him, all the day long he would speak no word
even to his sister, would only bark or give a low growl like the
collie. In this last he succeeded much better than in running like him,
although, indeed, his arms were so long that it was comparatively easy
for him to use them as forelegs. He let his head hang low as he went,