You 's whaur yoong Eppy 's at service .-- An' that min's me, sir, ye haena tellt me yet what kin' o' a place ye wad hae yersel.' It's no 'at a puir body like me can help, but it's aye weel to lat fowk ken what ye're efter.

A word gangs speirin' lang efter it's oot o' sicht--an' the answer may come frae far.

The Lord whiles brings aboot things i' the maist oonlikly fashion." "I'm ready for onything I'm fit to do," said Donal; "but I hae had what's ca'd a good education--though I hae learned mair frae my ain needs than frae a' my buiks; sae i wad raither till the human than the earthly soil, takin' mair interest i' the schoolmaister's craps than i' the fairmer's." "Wad ye objec' to maister ane by himsel'-- or maybe twa ?" "Na, surely--gien I saw mysel' fit." "Eppy mentiont last nicht 'at there was word aboot the castel o' a tutor for the yoongest.

Hae ye ony w'y o' approachin' the place ?" "Not till the minister comes home," answered Donal.

"I have a letter to him." "He'll be back by the middle o' the week, I hear them say." "Can you tell me anything about the people at the castle ?" asked Donal.
"I could," answered Andrew; "but some things is better f'un' oot nor kenned 'afore han'.