I aye kent, Elspeth, that I could never do much at the learning, but I didna see the reason till I read that.

Syne I kent that playing so real-like in the Den, and telling about my fits when it wasna me that had them but Corp, and mourning for Lewis Doig's father, and writing letters for folk so grandly, and a' my other queer ploys that ended in Cathro's calling me Sentimental Tommy, was what my heart was in, and I saw in a jiffy that if thae things were work, I should soon rise to supreme eminence." "But they're no," said Elspeth, sadly.
"No," he admitted, his face falling, "but, Elspeth, if I was to hear some day of work I could put my heart into as if it were a game! I wouldna be laug in finding the treasure syne.

Oh, the blatter I would make!" "I doubt there's no sic work," she answered, but he told her not to be so sure.

"I thought there wasna mysel'," he said, "till now, but sure as death my heart was as ta'en up wi' hunting for the right word as if it had been a game, and that was how the time slipped by so quick.

Yet it was paying work, for the way I did it made Mr.Ogilvy see I should have got the prize, and a' body kens there's more cleverness in him than in a cart-load o' ministers." "But, but there are no more Hugh Blackadders to try for, Tommy ?" "That's nothing, there maun be other work o' the same kind.