re short and to the point; and, in bidding a temporary farewell to professional work and preparing for a long holiday, I know I am following

an's company, unresponsive and grudging though it be, is all I desire. Betty has no patience with useless, idling folks, for she is herself a bustler, and she talks contemptuously of the hangers-on who daily and nightly support our village corners. Once she told me they were troubled wit

remarks as follows: 'We had a call yesterday from our client the Hon. Mrs Stuart, and in course of conversation she informed me that she had leased a house in the vicinity of Thornhill, and that her niece, the late General Stuart's daughter, was staying with her over the autumn. I was str

plexed every one concerned. Not only was the good name of the Stuart family involved; but, in the absence of p

ugh and the clatter of china recalled my wandering thoughts, and I began a rather disjointed apology. Holding up my f

n this mornin', an' when I thocht o' taxes an' sic fash, I was sairly tempted to back the fire wi' it. Imphm! that's so, noo. Eh! by the by, the doctor's Mary looked in on the bygaun, an' she tells me Dr Grierson will likely be do

idn't; but-well, the fact is I didn'

he said in the same inquisitive tone. I stirred my coffee vigorously, but said nothing. 'An' is it the cas

, Betty,' I

had ony thocht o'. The heid an' the spine are kittle to get hurt, but it's a guid's blessin' ye werena burnt beyond recognition. Efter siccan an experience it'

er than that of saving your feelings. At one time I was minded to tell you all about it; but when you met me at Elvanfoot I noted at a glance the pained, surprised look on your face, and I at once decided not to say more than was absolutely necessary. Besides, Betty, everyth

ld see she was under the impression that I kenned a' aboot it, an' I didna seek to disabuse her mind on that, but juist said, "Imphm! that is so, Mary-what ye say is true;" and she left my doorstep thinkin' I was farer ben in your confidences than I am. But that's a' richt, Maister Weelum. I respect your motives, an' I understaun exactly hoo ye were placed. But

under the neatly goffered border of her white morning-mutch.' Juist a word wi' ye, Maister Weelum, before I gang doon. Are ye quite agreeable tha

able, Betty-delighte

ye've nae feelin

ot,' I said. 'But

the floor and hal

n a whisper. 'An' tell me this; did the mistress-your mother, I mea

t I reme

up, dinna refer to my speirin' ye this;' an

. Scattered here and there in many a quiet country kirkyard are the graves of heroes of science who in their day ungrudgingly gave of their very best, faithfully ministering to the wants of the poor and needy without thought of fee or reward; men of ability, intellect, tact, and courage of heart,

bespoke the scholar and the gentleman. His clothes were of rough gray homespun, badly fitted and carelessly worn. A thin shepherd-tartan plaid, arranged herdwise, hung from his shoulder, and he held in his hand a round soft hat, gray-green from exposure to summer sun and winter rains. Such was the man who stood by my bedside-a Gideon Gray indeed-strong of purpose, keenly observ

p a position at the gable window, and feigned an interest in our grocer neighbour's back-yard. He looked at me pointedly and earnestly, the while stroking his long straggling beard, an

efter his mither's folk. When he was a bairn o' three he was the very spit o' his aunt Marge

y added.-'And in saying so I can pay no

nnedys aince on a time,' said Betty, and she chang

busying herself with the flowers, the while humming, timme

and, putting his long, thin hands lengthwise on his knee, he said, more

rget, then?' asked

notice it was distinctly disconcerting to the doctor, who qu

friends, a long, long time ago;' and he abstractedly traced with the t

chair. 'In that case, then, doctor,' she earnestly said, 'for her sake, for Miss Marget's sake, ye'll do your best for her nephew, for it breaks my h

tly closed the door,

awakened many memories of the long ago-memories of times and people that are with me now only in dreams. Ay, ay;

intended or as I expected, but a rather sickly-looking hart's-tongue fern, the ro

d of me. I ought to have planted this immediately on my arrival this morning; but fortu

from home, do

at fire, reading by the aid of a guttering tallow-candle a back-number of the Agricultural Gazette, I was called to work, and very soon added another arrow-the tenth-to the shepherd's quiver. When everything was "a' bye," as we say locally, Benthead kindly offered to drive me down to the mill; but, as the early morning was so delightfully fine, and nature outside so pleading and inviting, I took to the moor on "Shanks' naigie." Ah, the delight of that moorland walk! the exhilarating air of the uplands! Why, man, it was like quaffing wine, and the cobwebs-warp and woof of the sleepless hours-were charmed away as if by magic. The sun was just peeping over the crest of Bellybucht, and his rays were lying lovingly athwart the budding heather and the silver mist-wreathed bents. Bracken and juniper, blaeberry and crowberry; dewdrops here, dewdrops there, sparkling

ost; picked up this fossil-part of a frog, I think-which will make a welcome addition to my collection.' He hesitated for a moment, with half-

alone,' I

He is ever in communion, and He speaks in the rustle of the leaf, the tinkle of the stream, the whisper of the grass, and the echo of the linn. But you must be alone, humble, reverent, stripped to the pelt, as it we

ce. Betty's cat, with arched back and long tail, brushed slowly pas

d was mounting for home, when news was brought from Dresserland that a farm-worker had fallen from his cart and broken his leg. Off Daisy and I

ide, and a talk with you is like a walk in the open. Indeed, my limbs twi

itched, did they?

your love of nature and poetry

not business. I know you will be anxious to learn in how far Dr Balfo

nded church that morning, and that he had had communion with God and a glimpse of heaven which would have been an unknown experience and an unf

meanwhile I have to take more exercise; so with the aid of a friendly hazel I shall have a daily 'daunder' and an opportunity of renewing my acqua