'Na. Yer han's canna be clean. And fowk suld aye eat clean, whether
they gang clean or no.'

'I'll awa' in an' buy ane oot o' my ain shillin',' said Shargar, in
a tone of resolute eagerness.

'Ye'll do naething o' the kin',' returned Robert, darting his hand
at his collar. 'Gie me the shillin'. Ye'll want it a' or lang.'

Shargar yielded the coin and slunk behind, while Robert again led
the way till they came to his grandmother's door.

'Gang to the ga'le o' the hoose there, Shargar, and jist keek roon'
the neuk at me; and gin I whustle upo' ye, come up as quaiet 's ye
can. Gin I dinna, bide till I come to ye.'

Robert opened the door cautiously. It was never locked except at
night, or when Betty had gone to the well for water, or to the
butcher's or baker's, or the prayer-meeting, upon which occasions
she put the key in her pocket, and left her mistress a prisoner. He
looked first to the right, along the passage, and saw that his
grandmother's door was shut; then across the passage to the left,
and saw that the kitchen door was likewise shut, because of the
cold, for its normal position was against the wall. Thereupon,
closing the door, but keeping the handle in his hand, and the bolt
drawn back, he turned to the street and whistled soft and low.
Shargar had, in a moment, dragged his heavy feet, ready to part
company with their shoes at any instant, to Robert's side. He bent
his ear to Robert's whisper.