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'A sheep's heid； ye gowk （fool）。 Gang in direckly。'
Shargar persisted no longer； but； taking about four steps a minute；
slunk past the kitchen like a thiefnot so carefully； however； but
that one of his soles yet looser than the other gave one clap upon
the flagged passage； when Betty straightway stood in the kitchen
door； a fierce picture in a deal frame。 By this time Robert had
closed the outer door； and was following at Shargar's heels。
'What's this？' she cried； but not so loud as to reach the ears of
Mrs。 Falconer； for； with true Scotch foresight； she would not
willingly call in another power before the situation clearly
demanded it。 'Whaur's Shargar gaein' that gait？'
'Wi' me。 Dinna ye see me wi' him？ I'm nae a thief； nor yet's
Shargar。'
'There may be twa opingons upo' that； Robert。 I s' jist awa' benn
to the mistress。 I s' hae nae sic doin's i' my hoose。'
'It's nae your hoose； Betty。 Dinna lee。'
'Weel； I s' hae nae sic things gang by my kitchie door。 There；
Robert！ what 'll ye mak' o' that？ There's nae offence； there； I
houp； gin it suldna be a'thegither my ain hoose。 Tak Shargar oot o'
that； or I s' awa' benn the hoose； as I tell ye。'
Meantime Shargar was standing on the stones； looking like a
terrified white rabbit； and shaking from head to foot with cold and
fright combined。
'I'll tak him oot o' this； but it's up the stair； Betty。 An' gin ye
gang benn the hoose aboot it； I sweir to ye； as sure 's death； I'll
gang doon to Muckledrum upo' Setterday i' the efternune。'
'Gang awa' wi' yer havers。 Only gin the mistress speirs onything
aboot it； what am I to say？'
'Bide till she speirs。 Auld Spunkie says； 〃Ready…made answers are
aye to seek。〃 And I say； Betty； hae ye a cauld pitawta （potato）？'
'I'll luik and see。 Wadna ye like it het up？'
'Ow ay； gin ye binna lang aboot it。'
Suddenly a bell rang； shrill and peremptory； right above Shargar's
head； causing in him a responsive increase of trembling。
'Haud oot o' my gait。 There's the mistress's bell；' said Betty。
'Jist bide till we're roon' the neuk and on to the stair；' said
Robert； now leading the way。
Betty watched them safe round the corner before she made for the
parlour； little thinking to what she had become an unwilling
accomplice； for she never imagined that more than an evening's visit
was intended by Shargar； which in itself seemed to her strange and
improper enough even for such an eccentric boy as Robert to
encourage。
Shargar followed in mortal terror； for； like Christian in The
Pilgrim's Progress； he had no armour to his back。 Once round the
corner； two strides of three steps each took them to the top of the
first stair； Shargar knocking his head in the darkness against the
never…opened door。 Again three strides brought them to the top of
the second flight； and turning once more； still to the right； Robert
led Shargar up the few steps into the higher of the two garrets。
Here there was just glimmer enough from the sky to discover the
hollow of a close bedstead； built in under the sloping roof； which
served it for a tester； while the two ends and most of the front
were boarded up to the roof。 This bedstead fortunately was not so
bare as the one in the other room； although it had not been used for
many years； for an old mattress covered the boards with which it was
bottomed。
'Gang in there； Shargar。 Ye'll be warmer there than upo' the
door…step ony gait。 Pit aff yer shune。'
Shargar obeyed； full of delight at finding himself in such good
quarters。 Robert went to a forsaken press in the room； and brought
out an ancient cloak of tartan； of the same form as what is now
called an Inverness cape； a blue dress…coat； with plain gilt
buttons； which shone even now in the all but darkness； and several
other garments； amongst them a kilt； and heaped them over Shargar as
he lay on the mattress。 He then handed him the twopenny and the
penny loaves； which were all his stock had reached to the purchase
of； and left him； saying；
'I maun awa' to my tay； Shargar。 I'll fess ye a cauld tawtie het
again； gin Betty has ony。 Lie still； and whatever ye do； dinna come
oot o' that。'
The last injunction was entirely unnecessary。
'Eh； Bob； I'm jist in haven！' said the poor creature； for his skin
began to feel the precious possibility of reviving warmth in the
distance。
Now that he had gained a new burrow； the human animal soon recovered
from his fears as well。 It seemed to him； in the novelty of the
place； that he had made so many doublings to reach it； that there
could be no danger of even the mistress of the house finding him
out； for she could hardly be supposed to look after such a remote
corner of her dominions。 And then he was boxed in with the bed； and
covered with no end of warm garments； while the friendly darkness
closed him and his shelter all round。 Except the faintest blue
gleam from one of the panes in the roof； there was soon no hint of
light anywhere； and this was only sufficient to make the darkness
visible； and thus add artistic effect to the operation of it upon
Shargar's imaginationa faculty certainly uneducated in Shargar；
but far； very far from being therefore non…existent。 It was；
indeed； actively operative； although； like that of many a fine lady
and gentleman； only in relation to such primary questions as： 'What
shall we eat？ And what shall we drink？ And wherewithal shall we be
clothed？' But as he lay and devoured the new 'white breid；' his
satisfactionthe bare delight of his animal existencereached a
pitch such as even this imagination； stinted with poverty； and
frost…bitten with maternal oppression； had never conceived possible。
The power of enjoying the present without anticipation of the
future or regard of the past； is the especial privilege of the
animal nature； and of the human nature in proportion as it has not
been developed beyond the animal。 Herein lies the happiness of cab
horses and of tramps： to them the gift of forgetfulness is of worth
inestimable。 Shargar's heaven was for the present gained。
CHAPTER V。
THE SYMPOSIUM。
Robert had scarcely turned out of the square on his way to find
Shargar； when a horseman entered it。 His horse and he were both
apparently black on one side and gray on the other； from the
snow…drift settling to windward。 The animal looked tired； but the
rider sat as easy as if he were riding to cover。 The reins hung
loose； and the horse went in a straight line for The Boar's Head；
stopping under the archway only when his master drew bridle at the
door of the inn。
At that moment Miss Letty was standing at the back of Miss Napier's
chair； leaning her arms upon it as she talked to her。 This was her
way of resting as often as occasion arose for a chat with her elder
sister。 Miss Letty's hair was gathered in a great knot at the top
of her head； and little ringlets hung like tendrils down the sides
of her face； the benevolence of which was less immediately striking
than that of her sister's； because of the constant play of humour
upon it； especially about the mouth。 If a spirit of satire could be
supposed converted into something Christian by an infusion of the
tenderest loving…kindness and humanity； remaining still recognizable
notwithstanding that all its bitterness was gone； such was the
expression of Miss Letty's mouth； It was always half puckered as if
in resistance to a comic smile； which showed itself at the windows
of the keen gray eyes； however the mouth might be able to keep it
within doors。 She was neatly dressed in black silk； with a lace
collar。 Her hands were small and white。
The moment the traveller stopped at the door； Miss Napier started。
'Letty；' she said； 'wha's that？ I could amaist sweir to Black
Geordie's fit。'
'A' four o' them； I think；' returned Miss Letty； as the horse；
notwithstanding； or perhaps in consequence of his fatigue； began to
paw and move about on the stones impatiently。
The rider had not yet spoken。
'He'll be efter some o' 's deevil…ma'…care sculduddery。 But jist
rin to the door； Letty； or Lizzy 'll be there afore ye； and maybe
she wadna be ower ceevil。 What can he be efter noo？'
'What wad the grew （grayhound） be efter but maukin （hare）？' returned
Miss Letty。
'Hoot！ nonsense！ He kens naething aboot her。 Gang to the door；
lassie。'
Miss Letty obeyed。
'Wha's there？' she asked； somewhat sharply； as she opened it； 'that
neither chaps （knocks） nor ca's？Preserve 's a'！ is't you； my
lord？'
'Hoo ken ye me； Miss Letty withoot seein' my face？'
'A'body at The Boar's Heid kens Black Geordie as weel 's yer
lordship's ain sel'。 But whaur comes yer lordship frae in sic a
nicht as this？'
'From Russia。 Never dismounted between Moscow and Aberdeen。 The
ice is bearing to…night。'