hertily. Yon was the milk o' human kin'ness, gien ever was ony."

As he spoke he rose, and stood up refreshed for his journey.

"I hae a sodger laddie awa' i' the het pairts ye spak o'," said the
woman: "gien ye hadna ta'en the milk, ye wad hae gi'en me a sair
hert."

"Eh, gudewife, it wad hae gi'en me ane to think I had!" returned
Donal. "The Lord gie ye back yer sodger laddie safe an' soon'!
Maybe I'll hae to gang efter 'im, sodger mysel'."

"Na, na, that wadna do. Ye're a scholar--that's easy to see, for a'
ye're sae plain spoken. It dis a body's hert guid to hear a man 'at
un'erstan's things say them plain oot i' the tongue his mither
taucht him. Sic a ane 'ill gang straucht till's makker, an' fin'
a'thing there hame-like. Lord, I wuss minnisters wad speyk like
ither fowk!"

"Ye wad sair please my mither sayin' that," remarked Donal. "Ye maun
be jist sic anither as her!"

"Weel, come in, an' sit ye doon oot o' the sin, an' hae something to
ait."

"Na, I'll tak nae mair frae ye the day, an' I thank ye," replied
Donal; "I canna weel bide."

"What for no?"