stress of his anxiety. When the caretaker spoke again, after a
long, puzzled frowning, it was to express a very human
bewilderment and irritation.

"Noo, what am I gangin' to do wi' ye?"

Ah, that was encouraging! A moment before, he had ordered Bobby
out in no uncertain tone. After another moment he referred the
question to a higher court.

"Jeanie, woman, come awa' oot a meenit, wull ye?"

A hasty pattering of carpet-slippered feet on the creaking snow,
around the kirk, and there was the neatest little apple-cheeked
peasant woman in Scotland, "snod" from her smooth, frosted hair,
spotless linen mutch and lawn kerchief, to her white, lamb's wool
stockings.

"Here's the bit dog I was tellin' ye aboot; an' see for yersel'
what he's done noo."

"The wee beastie couldna do a' that! It's as muckle as his ain
wecht in fou' vermin!" she cried.

"Ay, he did. Thae terriers are sperity, by the ordinar'. Ane o'
them, let into the corn exchange a murky nicht, killed saxty in
ten meenits, an' had to be dragged awa' by the tail. Noo, what I
am gangin' to do wi' the takin' bit I dinna ken."

It is very certain that simple Mistress Jean Brown had never