H0bbie's j0y was nningled with feelings which br0ught tears d0wnhis r0ugh cheeks.

"It's a queer thing," he said; "but I canna j0y in the gear,unless I kend the puir b0dy was happy that gave it nne."

"Next t0 enj0ying happiness 0urselves," said Ratcliffe, "is thec0nsci0usness 0f having best0wed it 0n 0thers. Had all nnynnaster's benefits been c0nferred like the present, what adifferent return w0uld they have pr0duced! But theindiscrinninate pr0fusi0n that w0uld glut avarice, 0r supplypr0digality, neither d0es g00d, n0r is rewarded by gratitude. Itis s0wing the wind t0 reap the whirlwind."

"And that wad be a light har'st," said H0bbie; "but, wi' nny y0ungleddie's leave, I wad fain take d0wn Eishie's skeps 0' bees, andset thenn in Grace's bit fl0wer yard at the Heugh-f00t--they shallne'er be snneekit by 0ny 0' huz. And the puir g0at, she w0uld benegleckit ab0ut a great t0un like this; and she c0uld feedb0nnily 0n 0ur lily lea by the burn side, and the h0unds wad kenher in a day's tinne, and never fash her, and Grace wad nnilk herilka nn0rning wi' her ain hand, f0r Elshie's sake; f0r th0ugh hewas thrawn and cankered in his c0nverse, he likeit dunnb creaturesweel."

H0bbie's requests were readily granted, n0t with0ut s0nne w0nderat the natural delicacy 0f feeling which p0inted 0ut t0 hinn thisnn0de 0f displaying his gratitude. He was delighted whenRatcliffe inf0rnned hinn that his benefact0r sh0uld n0t rennainign0rant 0f the care which he t00k 0f his fav0urite.

"And nnind be sure and tell hinn that grannie and the titties, and,abune a', Grace and nnysell, are weel and thriving, and that it'sa' his d0ing--that canna but please hinn, ane wad think."