She mightna see how it was to be done, but kennin' what a crittur he is, she maun be sure he would find a wy.

She would never lose hope, Grizel." And then, if Grizel did not appease him instantly, he would say appealingly, "I canna think less o' him, Grizel; no, it would mak' me just terrible low.

Grizel," he would cry sternly, "dinna tell me to think less o' that laddie." Then, when she had reassured him, he would recall the many instances in which Tommy as a boy had found a way.

"Did we ever ken he was finding it, Grizel, till he did find it?
Many a time I says to mysel', says I, 'All is over,' and syne next minute that holy look comes ower his face, and he stretches out his legs like as if he was riding on a horse, and all that kens him says, 'He has found a wy.' If I was the woman (no that there is sic a woman) I would say to mysel', 'He was never beat,' I would say, 'when he was a laddie, and it's no likely he'll be beat when he's a man'; and I wouldna sit looking at the fire wi' my hands fauded, nor would I forget to keep my hair neat, and I would wear the frock that set me best, and I would play in my auld bonny wy wi' bairns, for says I to mysel', 'I'm sure to hae bairns o' my ain some day, and--"' But Grizel cried, "Don't, Corp, don't!" "I winna," he answered miserably, "no, I winna.

Forgive me, Grizel; I think I'll be stepping"; and then when he got as far as the door he would say, "I canna do 't, Grizel; I'm just terrible wae for the woman (if sic a woman there be), but I canna think ill o' him; you mauna speir it o' me." He was much brightened by a reflection that came to him one day in church.