day or two "and rest himsel'." It was benevolently added, that "he could help Johnnie to fish at an odd hour, and to sort the dogs and horses in ordinar' hours.". The fact was, old Spence did not wish Hall to return immediately to Drumsylie, until events there had time to be affected by his letter to Smellie. Jock was too glad of the opportunity afforded him of proving that he might be trusted to do whatever work he was fitted for, and that he was not "a lazy tramper" by choice.

had none.

As the week was drawing to an end, Jock made up his mind to return to his old haunts, for home he He had also an undefined longing to see the Sergeant, and to know how it fared with him. But when the day arrived for his departure, Hugh suggested that perhaps Jock would like to see the Castle, where he had business with his Lordship to transact pertaining to the game. It was not, he said, every day he would have such a chance of seeing so grand a place, and maybe he might see his lordship!at a distance. Besides, it would not take him far out of his road; and Hugh, when he had finished his business, would accompany him a part of the way home, as he had to visit a distant part of the estate in the discharge of his professional

duties.

Jock's curiosity was excited to see the great house not as a beggar or a poacher, but under the genteel protection of a keeper and confidential servant, when a live lord might be scanned from afar without fear.

to find him, and, having succeeded, took him aside and said—“Johnnie, laddie, I hae been treated by yer folk like a lord, tho' after a' I dinna weel ken hoo a lord is treated; but, howsomdever, wi'oot ony clavers aboot it, here's to ye in a present the best buik o' flees in the kintra side. Tak' them, and welcome." And Jock made up his "Book of Sports," which had been his most cheerful companion for many a year, and almost forcing Johu to take it, added, "I hae a obligation to ax: never tell yer folk aboot it till I'm awa', and never tell ony stranger atween this and Drumsylie that ye got it frae Jock Hall." And before the astonished boy could thank him as the generous giver of so many keys to unlock every pool of its treasure, ou every day in the year and at all seasons, Jock was off to join Hugh."

In a short time Hugh was conducting Jock towards the Castle. After they passed the lodge, and were walking along the beautiful avenue and beneath the fine old trees, with the splendid park sweeping around, the moment the turrets of the Castle were descried Hugh said, "Now, Hall, dinna speak to onybody unless they speak to you, and gie a discreet answer. The least said is soonest mended. Dae my biddin'; for I'm takin' a great responsibility in bringin' ye în here. His lordship wadna be pleased to see a trampin' chiel like you. But I'll tak' care he doesna see ye.”

"Never fear me," said Jock;"I'll be as quiet as a dead rabbit. But I think I see'd his lordship afore?"

“Whaur ?” asked Hugh, with an expression of

“He ance tried me, I think, as a maugistrát"," replied Jock, equally placid.

When Jock came to bid farewell to old Spence, he approached him, bonnet in hand, with every token of respect. He said little but Thank yeastonishment.a thank ye, Mr. Spence, for yer guidness ;" and whispering, added, "I'm sorry if I offended ye. But maybe ye could get a job for me if I canna fa' into honest wark at Drumsylie? I'll break my back, or break my heart, to please you or ony dacent man that will help me to feed my body (it's no mickle buik) and to cover't-little will keep the cauld oot, for my hide is weel tanned wi' win' and weather."

Spence smiled and thanked him-ay, even shook hands with him!—an honour which went to Jock's heart; and Spence added, "My compliments to my cousin Adam, and tell him to keep his heart up and his pooder dry."

Mrs. Spence had prepared a good rung" of bread and cheese, which she stuffed into Jock's pocket to support him in his journey... 19,1977IIT

"Awfu' guid o' ye-maist awfu!" said Jock, as he eyed the honest woman pressing the food into its ragged receptacle.

Jock looked around and asked for Johnnie. On being told that he was at the stables, he went off

"Tried ye!" exclaimed Hugh; pausing in his walk as if he had got into some scrape and was about to enter a second-"tried ye for what?"

**Oh, never heed," said Jock; "dinna be ower particular. It was a drucken habble I got into wi twa tailor chappies that struck me, and my head and ee were bun' wi' a bluidy napkin at the trial, and his lordship wall no ken me.

“Was that a'!” carelessly remarked Hugh. "Ye micht bae thrashed nine o' them and no got yersel' hurt." I

But Jock did not tell the whole history of one of his poaching affrays.

Hugh ensconced Jock in the shrubbery until he ascertained from one of the servants that his lordship had gone out to walk in the grounds, that the ladies were taking an airing in the carriage, and that it was quite possible to get a peep into the great hall and the public rooms opening from it, without being discovered.As Hugh, accompanied by Jock, crept almost noiselessly along the passages, he directed with under-breath Jock's attention to the noble apartments, the arms and suits of mail húng round the walls of the great entrance-hall, the stags' heads, the stuffed birds, and one or two fine paintings of boar-hunts. But when the

2

Good Words, April 1, 1867.]

THE STARLING.

drawing-room door was opened, and there flashed
upon Jook's eyes all the splendour of colour
reflected from large mirrors, in which he saw, for
the first time, his own odd figure from crown to toe
(that made him start back as if he had seen a ghost),
and when through the windows he beheld all the
beauty of flowers that filled the parterres, dotted
with jets d'eaux, white statues and urns, and sur-
rounded by bowery foliage, a vision presented
itself which was as new to him as if he had passed
into Eden from the lodgings of Mrs. Craigie,

64

He did not speak a word, but only remarked that it was nae doubt unco braw, and wad cost a heap o' siller." But, as they were retreating, suddenly the inner door of the hall opened, and his lordship stood before them! きょ

A

About a week, or may be a fortnight," said
*a fortnight

Jock.
"What!" exclaimed his lordship;
only ? And what after that ??

"I ran off as fast as I could," said Jock; never
stopped till I reached Drumsylie."

Hugh turned his back as if to run away, with His lordship sundry half-muttered exclamations of horror and alarm for the friend of a sergeant.

J.

"Heeven be aboot us!" exclaimed Spence, and in a lower voice added, "Dune for, dune for life!" He looked round him, as if for some means But he of concealing himself, but in vain. The door by burst into a fit of laughter, and said, “On which they had entered was closed behind them. my honour, you're a candid follow." Jock, seeing only a plain-looking little gentleman evidently assumed that Jock was probably a halfin a Glengarry bonnet and tweed suit, never ima-witted character, who did not comprehend the gined that this could be a lord, and was accord. full meaning of his admission. He was confirmed ingly quite composed. Spence, with his eyes fixed in his supposition by Jock going on to say, in the on the ground and his face flushed to the roots most easy and simple fashion, of his hair, seemed speechless.

His lordship was a slight-built man, of about forty, with pleasing hazel eyes and large moustache. He had retired from the army, and was much liked for his frank manner and good humour. Seeing his keeper in such perplexity, accompanied by a person so disreputable-looking, he said, "Hollo, Spence! whom have you got here? I hope not a poacher, eh?" "I humbly beg your lordship's pardon; but, my lord, the fac' is- -"stammered Hugh... 11

"I listed when I was fou; and though I had nae objections at ony time to fire a gun at a bird'or a' Frenchman, or to fecht them that wad fecht me,' yet the sodjers at Stirlin' made a fule o' me, and keepit me walkin' and trampin' back and forrid for twa weeks in the yaird, as if they were breckin' a horse; and I could dae naething, neither fish, nor even shoot craws, wi'oot the leave o' an ill-tongued' corporal. I couldna' thole that, could I? It wasna in the bargain, and sae I left, and they didna think after me. it worth their while to speer "Egad! said his lordship, laughing, I dare say not, I dare say not! Do you know what they might have done to you if they had caught you, my pman?" asked his lordship.

Is that his lordship?" whispered Jock "Haud yer tongue!" replied Hugh in an under tone of intense vehemence. Then addressing his lordship, he said, "He's no poacher, my lord; no, ne, but only

66

Oh! an acquaintance, I suppose, who

w

Ja "No that either, no that either," interrupted Hugh, as his dignity was frying on account of his companion, whom he wished a hundred miles away, "but an acquaintance o' an acquaintance o' my faither's lang syne-a most respectable man-Ser geant Mercer, in Drumsylie, and I took the leeberty, thinking yer lordship was out, to="mvp

“To show him the house. Quite right, Spence; quite right; glad you did so." Then addressing Jock, he said, Never here before, I suppose Jock drew himself up, placed his hands along his sides, heels in, toes out, then gave the military salute.

T

Been in the army? In what regiment? you seen service?ula y siet in 24

Yes, sir yes, my lord," replied Jack; yer honour says, I have seen service."

9

Shot me, I expec"," said Jock;" but I wasna gled for harryin' a worth the pooder; and, to tell the truth, T wad raither be shot like a paitrick's nest, than be kept a' my days in a cage o' a berricks at Stirlin'! I wasna heedin' whether they shot me or no," added Jock, looking round him, and stroking his chin as if in a half dream. "The black dog tak' ye!" said Spence, who lost his temper. "My lord, I declare—_—_-'' '' "Never mind, Spence, never mind; let him speak to me ;' and go you to the servants' hall until I send for you." and man

Spence bowed and retired, thankful to be released from his present agony. His lordship, who had a Have passion for characters which the keeper could not comprehend, gave a sign to Jock to remain, and then went on with the following catechism. **What did your parents do?" "Little guid and mickle ill." "Were you at school?" 16No that I mind o'.” và mal

A

as

This was information to Spence, who breathed more freely as he received such unexpected evi dence of Jock's respectability. aug sep

"A ne'er-do-weel-a kin' o'cheat-the-wuddy. Sae young craturs to jail wad sen' aulder folk that folk tell me, and I suppose they're richt."

"That's no a bad ane, after a'!" said Jock, with after them."

a quiet laugh, turning his head away.

"A bad what?" asked his lordship, perplexed by Jock; and for a moment, amidst his ease and the reply.

"I hae nane to gie," said Jock, with the same beg; I'll no tak them." impassible look.

"On my word," added his lordship, "I think disoblige me, will you?" and he thrust the money you're an honest fellow ! "

"He looks a fine bit decent sponsible bodie," said Jock, as if speaking of a nobody.

"I should think sae!" remarked Hugh, evidently chagrined by the cool criticism of his companion. "Were ye no frichted for him?" asked Hugh. "Wha?-me?" replied Jock. "Frichted for what? He said naethin' to fricht me. Certes I was mair frichted when I stood afore him for thrashin' the twa tailors! The man didna molest me, but was unco ceevil, as I was to him, and gied me siller and cises as I never got frae mortal man, no tae speak o' a lord. Frichted! I was ower prood to be frichted."

"Aweel, aweel," said the keeper, "ye're a queer cratur, Hall! and if ye haena' gowd ye hae brass. I was tremblin' for ye!"

"I'll tell ye," said Jock, looking earnestly at Hugh. "Had a man ta'en ye into his hoose, and fed ye whan starvin', and pit shoon on ye whan barefitted, and spak to ye no as if ye were a brute beast, I tak it ye wad understau' what a frien' was! Mind ye what I said, that I'm no sic a gomeril bad as I am-or sae wantin' in decency as to even mysel' to be the Sergeant's frien', but I said he was my frien'-and that he was!"

"What way wur ye brocht up that ye eam to be sae puir as to need Adam's assistance or ony other man's? Ye surely had as guid a chance as ony o' yer neebors?"

Jock's countenance began to assume that excited expression which the vivid recollection of his past life, especially of his youth, seemed always to produce. But Hall tried to check himself when symptoms of his hysteria began to manifest themselves in the muscles of his throat. He rose and took a few hurried paces to and fro on the heather, as if resolved to gain his self-possession, and not leave his newlyacquired friend the keeper under the impression that he was either desperately wicked or incurably "Tuts, Jock," said Hugh, "I didna mean to insane. A new motive had come into play-a fite on ye. I ax yer pardon."

"Nae wunner," said Jock; "ye had somethin' tae loose, but I had naethin'. What could he dae to me but pit me oot o' the hoose? and I was gaun oot mysel. Jock Hall is ower far doon for ony mortal man tae pit him doon farther. He may be better, but he canna be waur. Naebody can hurt a dead dowg, can they?

"Gae awa, gae awa wi yer nonsense, Mr. Spence!" replied Jock-"that's what naebody ever did, to ax my pardon, and it's no for a man like you to begin. Ye micht as weel ax a rattan's pardon for eatin' a' yer cheese. In troth I'm no Sen mysel tae that fashion o' axin' pardons, for wad be a heap o' trouble for folk to grant But, man, if I got wark, I would maybe be e yet to ax pardon o' a decent man, and to get itto for the axin'!"

"no forget ye, I do assure ye," said Spence, kindly. “You and me may meet afore lang up the way at the cottage."

Jock could not resist the new emotion which prompted him to seize the keeper's hand and give ta hearty squeeze. On the strength of the renewed friendship, he offered him a snuff.

The keeper, from commands received from his endship, found that he could not accompany Jock far on his road as he had anticipated, but was ged to part with him where his path to Drumeled across the moorland. Here they sat down * a heathery hill, when Spence said, “Before we cart, I would like to ken frae yersel', Hall, how ye are a frien' to Adam Mercer?"

"I never said I was a frien' to Adam Mercer," rer lied Jock.

Hugh, as if for the first time suspecting Hall f deception, said firmly, "But ye did! I declare ye did, and my faither believed you!"

"I never did sic a thing," said Jock, as firmly, in reply. I couldna say that wi'oot a lee, and if I never telt tae you or yours, altho' I hae telt unco heap to ser' my turn in my day. But I sal that Adam Mercer was a frien' to me." Hugh, not quite perceiving the difference yet, ed, "Hoo was he a frien' to you?"

portion of his heart which had lain as it were
dormant until stimulated by the Sergeant's kind-
ness, had assumed a power which was rapidly, under
benign influences, gaining the ascendency. In spite
of, or rather perhaps because of, his inward strug-
gle, his face for a moment was deadly pale. His
hands were clenched. He seemed as if discharging
from every muscle a stream of suddenly-generated
electricity. Turning at length to Hugh, he said,
with knit brow and keenly-piercing eyes,
"What
made ye ax me sic a question, Mr. Spence ?—
What for? I'll no tell ye, for I canna tell you or
ony man hoo I was brocht up!'

But he did tell him-as if forced to do so in order to get rid of the demon-much of what our readers already know of those sad days of misery, and he added, "And noo, had ye been like a wild fox and the hounds after ye, and nae mair cared for than a dowg wi' a kettle at its tail, hidin' half mad up a close ayont a midden; or a cat nigh staned to death, pechin' its life awa' in a hole; and if ye kent never a man or woman but hated ye, and, waur than a', gin ye hated them; and if ye heard your ain faither and mither cursing ye frae the time ye war a bairn till they gaed awa' in their coffins wi' your curses followin' after them,-ye wad ken what it was to hae ae friend on earth;-and now I hae mair than ane !" And poor Jock, for the first time probably in his life, sobbed like a child.

Spence said nothing but " puir fellow" and whiffed his pipe, which he had just lighted, with more than usual vehemence,

Jock soon resumed his usual calm,

"As one whose brain demoniac frenzy fires
Owes to his fit, in which his soul hath tost,
Profounder quiet, when the fit retires,-
Even so the dire phantasma which had crost
His sense, in sudden vacancy quite lost,
Left his mind still as a deep evening stream."

(To be continued.)