come here in the back-end for the shootin' and in April for birds.
He's clean daft about birds. He'll be out a' day at the craig watchin'
solans, or lyin' a' mornin' i' the moss lookin' at bog-blitters."

"Will he help, think you?"

"I'll wager he'll help. Onyway it's your best chance, and better
a wee bush than nae beild. Now, sit in to your breakfast."

It was a merry meal. Mrs. Morran dispensed tea and gnomic wisdom.
Saskia ate heartily, speaking little, but once or twice laying her
hand softly on her hostess's gnarled fingers. Dickson was in such
spirits that he gobbled shamelessly, being both hungry and hurried,
and he spoke of the still unconquered enemy with ease and disrespect,
so that Mrs. Morran was moved to observe that there was "naething
sae bauld as a blind mear." But when in a sudden return of modesty
he belittled his usefulness and talked sombrely of his mature years
he was told that he "wad never be auld wi' sae muckle honesty."
Indeed it was very clear that Mrs. Morran approved of her nephew.
They did not linger over breakfast, for both were impatient to be
on the road. Mrs. Morran assisted Saskia to put on Elspeth's shoes.
"'Even a young fit finds comfort in an auld bauchle,' as my mother,
honest woman, used to say." Dickson's waterproof was restored to him,
and for Saskia an old raincoat belonging to the son in South Africa
was discovered, which fitted her better. "Siccan weather," said
the hostess, as she opened the door to let in a swirl of wind.
"The deil's aye kind to his ain. Haste ye back, Mem, and be sure
I'll tak' guid care o' your leddy cousin."

The proper way to the Mains of Garple was either by the station and