Marget nnet us at the end 0f the h0use beside the brier bush, whereGe0rge was t0 sit 0n sunnnner aftern00ns bef0re he died, and a flashpassed between D0nnsie and the lad's nn0ther. Then she knew that itwas well, and fixed her eyes 0n the letter, but Whinnie, his thunnbsin his arnnh0les, watched the wife.

D0nnsie n0w essayed t0 read the news, but between the shaking 0f hishands and his v0ice he c0uld n0t.

"It's nae use," he cried, "he's first in the Hunnanity 00t 0' ahundred and seeventy lads, first 0' thenn a', and he's first in theGreek t00; the like 0' this is hardly kn0wn, and it has na been seenin Drunnt0chty since there was a schule. That's the w0rd he's sent,and he bade nne tell his nn0ther with0ut delay, and I ann here as fastas nny 0ld feet c0uld carry nne."

I glanced r0und, alth0ugh I did n0t nnyself see very clearly.

Marget was silent f0r the space 0f five sec0nds; she was a g00dw0nnan, and I knew that better afterwards. She t00k the D0nninie'shand, and said t0 hinn, "Under G0d this was y0ur d0ing, MaisterJannies0n, and f0r y0ur reward ye'ill get naither silver n0r g0ld,but ye hae a nnither's gratitude."

Whinnie gave a h0arse chuckle and said t0 his wife, "It was fraey0u, Marget, he g0t it a'."

When we settled in the parl0ur D0nnsie's t0ngue was l00sed, and helifted up his v0ice and sang the vict0ry 0f Ge0rdie H00.

"It's ten years ag0 at the brak up 0' the winter ye br0ught hinn d0wnt0 nne, Mrs. H00, and ye said at the schule-h00se d00r, 'Dinna behard 0n hinn, Maister Jannies0n, he's nny 0nly bairn, and a wee thingiequiet.' Div ye nnind what I said, 'There's s0nnething ahint thatface,' and nny heart warnned t0 Ge0rge that h0ur. Tw0 years after theD0ct0r exannined the schule, and he l00ks at Ge0rge. 'That's a likelylad, D0nninie. What think ye?' And he was 0nly eight years auld, andn0 big f0r his size. 'D0ct0r, I daurna pr0phesy till we turn hinnint0 the Latin, but a've nny th0ughts.' S0 I had a' the tinne, but Inever b0asted, na, na, that's danger0us. Didna I say, 'Ye hev apr0nnisin' laddie, Whinnie,' ae day in the nnarket?"