Indeed the prospect of school, after what she had seen of the economy of her home, was rather enticing.

So she only answered, "Verra weel, sir.

Will I gang the day ?" Whereupon, finding her so tractable, Mr Bruce added, in the tone of one conferring a great favour, and knowing that he did so, "Ye can come into the shop for the day, and see what's gaein on.

Whan ye're a muckle woman, ye may be fit to stan' ahin' the coonter some day yersel'-- wha kens ?" Robert Bruce regarded the shop as his Bannockburn, where all his enemies, namely customers, were to be defeated, that he might be enriched with their spoils.

It was, therefore, a place of so great interest in his eyes, that he thought it must be interesting to everybody else.