"He kens a hantle mair nor you or me or Gibbie aither; an' whan he's learnt a' 'at Donal can shaw him it'll be time to think what neist." "Weel," answered Janet, "nane can say but that's sense, Robert; an' though I'm laith, for your sake mair nor my ain, to lat the laddie gang, let him gang to Donal.

I houp, atween the twa, they winna lat the nowt amo' the corn." "The corn's 'maist cuttit noo," replied Robert; "an' for the maitter o' that, twa guid consciences winna blaw ane anither oot .-- But he needna gang ilka day.

He can gie ae day to the learnin', an' the neist to thinkin' aboot it amo' the sheep.

An' ony day 'at ye want to keep him, ye can keep him; for it winna be as gien he gaed to the schuil." Gibbie was delighted with the proposal.
"Only," said Robert, in final warning, "dinna ye lat them tak ye, Gibbie, an' score yer back again, my cratur; an' dinna ye answer naebody, whan they speir what ye're ca'd, onything mair nor jist Gibbie." The boy laughed and nodded, and, as Janet said, the bairn's nick was guid 's the best man's word.
Now came a happy time for the two boys.

Donal began at once to teach Gibbie Euclid and arithmetic.