MAKING THE BEST OF IT Hendry had a way of resuming a conversation where he had left off the night before.

He would revolve a topic in his mind, too, and then begin aloud, "He's a queer ane," or, "Say ye so ?" which was at times perplexing.

With the whole day before them, none of the family was inclined to waste strength in talk; but one morning when he was blowing the steam off his porridge, Hendry said, suddenly-- "He's hame again." The women-folk gave him time to say to whom he was referring, which he occasionally did as an after-thought.

But he began to sup his porridge, making eyes as it went steaming down his throat.
"I dinna ken wha ye mean," Jess said; while Leeby, who was on her knees rubbing the hearthstone a bright blue, paused to catch her father's answer.
"Jeames Geogehan," replied Hendry, with the horn spoon in his mouth.
Leeby turned to Jess for enlightenment.
"Geogehan," repeated Jess; "what, no little Jeames 'at ran awa ?" "Ay, ay, but he's a muckle stoot man noo, an' gey grey." "Ou, I dinna wonder at that.

It's a guid forty year since he ran off." "I waurant ye couldna say exact hoo lang syne it is ?" Hendry asked this question because Jess was notorious for her memory, and he gloried in putting it to the test.
"Let's see," she said.
"But wha is he ?" asked Leeby.