and _cleanliness_ and freshness of mind and body made old age lovely and
desirable."

[Footnote 2: Applied to a pump when it is dry and its valve has lost its
"fang."]

Sir Walter was in that house almost every day, and had a key, so in he
and the hound went, shaking themselves in the lobby. "Marjorie!
Marjorie!" shouted her friend, "where are ye, my bonnie wee croodlin
doo?" In a moment a bright, eager child of seven was in his arms, and he
was kissing her all over. Out came Mrs. Keith. "Come yer ways in,
Wattie." "No, not now. I am going to take Marjorie wi' me, and you may
come to your tea in Duncan Roy's sedan, and bring the bairn home in your
lap." "Tak' Marjorie, and it _on-ding o' snaw!_" said Mrs. Keith. He
said to himself, "On-ding--that's odd--that is the very word." "Hoot,
awa! look here," and he displayed the corner of his plaid, made to hold
lambs,--the true shepherd's plaid, consisting of two breadths sewed
together, and uncut at one end, making a poke or _cul de sac_. "Tak' yer
lamb," said she, laughing at the contrivance; and so the Pet was first
well happit up, and then put, laughing silently, into the plaid neuk,
and the shepherd strode off with his lamb,--Maida gambolling through the
snow, and running races in her mirth.

Didn't he face "the angry airt," and make her bield his bosom, and into
his own room with her, and lock the door, and out with the warm, rosy
little wifie, who took it all with great composure! There the two
remained for three or more hours, making the house ring with their
laughter; you can fancy the big man's and Maidie's laugh. Having made
the fire cheery, he set her down in his ample chair, and, standing
sheepishly before her, began to say his lesson, which happened to be,