"Lippen all to him," he said with grand confidence, "he'll find a wy." And Tommy found a way.

Birkie was the boy who bought the pack of cards.
He saw Tommy looking so-woe-begone that it was necessary to ask the reason.
"Oh, Birkie, lend me threepence," sobbed Tommy, "and I'll give you sixpence the morn." "You're daft," said Birkie, "there's no a laddie in Thrums that will have one single lonely bawbee the morn." "Him that buys the cards," moaned Tommy, "will never be without siller, for you tell auld folks fortunes on them at a penny every throw.

Lend me threepence, Birkie.

They cost a sic, and I have just--" "Na, na," said greedy Birkie, "I'm no to be catched wi' chaff.

If it's true, what you say, I'll buy the cards mysel'." Having thus got hold of him, Tommy led Birkie to a stand where the King of Egypt was telling fortunes with cards, and doing a roaring trade among the Jocks and Jennys.