"I'll tell ye what for," answered Donal. "I ken weel toon-fowk think
it a heap better to hae to du wi' figures nor wi' sheep, but I'm no
o' their min'; an' for ae thing, the sheep's alive. I could weel
fancy an angel a shepherd--an' he wad coont my father guid company!
Troth, he wad want wings an' airms an' feet an' a' to luik efter
the lambs whiles! But gien sic a ane was a clerk in a coontin'
hoose, he wad hae to stow awa the wings; I cannot see what use he
wad hae for them there. He micht be an angel a' the time, an' that
no a fallen ane, but he bude to lay aside something to fit the
place."

"But ye're no a shepherd the noo?" said the cobbler.

"Na," replied Donal, "--'cep' it be I'm set to luik efter anither
grade o' lamb. A freen'--ye may 'a' h'ard his name--sir Gilbert
Galbraith--made the beginnin' o' a scholar o' me, an' noo I hae my
degree frae the auld university o' Inverdaur."

"Didna I think as muckle!" cried mistress Comin triumphant. "I hadna
time to say 't to ye, Anerew, but I was sure he was frae the
college, an' that was hoo his feet war sae muckle waur furnisht nor
his heid."

"I hae a pair o' shune i' my kist, though--whan that comes!" said
Donal, laughing.

"I only houp it winna be ower muckle to win up oor stair!"

"I dinna think it. But we'll lea' 't i' the street afore it s' come
'atween 's!" said Donal. "Gien ye'll hae me, sae lang's I'm i' the