"Who is `he' ?" "My brother--Bob, sir," said she, still trembling and nervous; "my brother here, sir." "Bob what ?" "Strong, sir," replied Nellie, a little less timidly, now that she saw the old gentleman was not going to eat her up quite--"Robert Dugald Strong, sir." "Humph!" he grunted out in reply to this.

"He may be Strong by name and he looks strong by nature; but, really, he seems unusually weak in mind--he's a lunatic, I should think!" But, there was a quaint, good-humoured expression on his face that somewhat belied his abrupt manner and harsh, peremptory voice, which sounded like that of a bullying old barrister, cross-examining a hesitating witness in court; so Nellie, therefore, gathered increased confidence as she caught his glance, to proceed with her explanation anent Master Bob.
"You're mistaken, sir,--he isn't silly," she said.

"He only wanted me to cross over to the other side of the carriage; and I told him I couldn't pass by you, sir.

That was all, sir." "Oh, indeed! Then I'm sure I beg your pardon," said the old gentleman very politely, drawing in his legs, so as to leave the road clear.

"I don't see, though, what the young rascal has got to laugh at in that way, like a regular young yahoo." "Please, sir, pray excuse him," pleaded Nellie on behalf of Bob.