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'The Flooers o' the Forest. 'Play awa' than. And Robert played not so well as he had hoped. I dare say it was a humble enough performance, but he gave something at least of the expression Mr. Lammie desired. For, the moment the tune was over, he exclaimed, 'Weel dune, Robert man! ye'll be a fiddler some day yet! And Robert was well satisfied with the praise.
'Weel, I hae aften wonnert what gart ye burden yersel' wi' that Shargar, as I understan' they ca' him, said Mr. Lammie. 'Jist naething but a bit o' greed, returned the old lady, with the nearest approach to a smile that had shown itself upon her face since Mr. Lammie's last visit. 'I dinna understan' that, Mistress Faukner, said Miss Lammie.
Lammie presented his petition, otherwise he would never have heard of it till the day of departure arrived, and would thus have lost all the delights of anticipation. In frantic effort to control his ecstasy, he sped to the garret, and with trembling hands tied the second joint of the day to the tail of the dragon the first time he had ever broken the law of its accretion.
Shargar, in his turn, was obstinate. Lammie, when Robert returned the shilling with Mrs. Falconer's message, 'but I reckon I maun pit it i' my pooch, for she will hae her ain gait, an' I dinna want to strive wi' her. But gin ony o' ye be in want o' a shillin' ony day, lads, as lang 's I'm abune the yird this ane 'll be grown twa, or maybe mair, 'gen that time.
In the evening, as they sat together after supper, Mr. Lammie said, 'Weel, Robert, hoo's the fiddle? 'Fine, I thank ye, sir, answered Robert. 'Lat's hear what ye can do wi' 't. Robert fetched the instrument and complied. 'That's no that ill, remarked the farmer. 'But eh! man, ye suld hae heard yer gran'father han'le the bow. That was something to hear ance in a body's life.
When he reached Bodyfauld he marvelled to find that all its glory had returned. He found Miss Lammie busy among the rich yellow pools in her dairy, and went out into the garden, now in the height of its summer.
Falconer had consulted the Misses Napier, who had many acquaintances in Aberdeen, as to a place proper for Robert, and suitable to her means. Upon this point Miss Letty, not without a certain touch of design, as may appear in the course of my story, had been able to satisfy her. In a small house of two floors and a garret, in the old town, Mr. Lammie took leave of Robert.
From a shealing of turf and straw, within the pitch of a bar from the spot where we stood, came out an old woman bent with age, and leaning on a crutch. "I heard the voice of that lad Andrew Lammie; can the chield be drowning, that he skirls sae uncannilie?" said the old woman, seating herself on the ground, and looking earnestly at the water.
Just as the sun rushed across the horizon he heard the tramp of a heavy horse in the yard, passing from the stable to the cart that was to carry his trunk to the turnpike road, three miles off, where the coach would pass. Then Miss Lammie came and called him to breakfast, and there sat the farmer in his Sunday suit of black, already busy.
Lammie, kindly, 'hoo cam ye by that bluidy fut? Robert began the story, and, guided by a few questions from his host, at length told the tale of the violin from beginning to end, omitting only his adventure in the factory. Many a guffaw from Mr.
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