"Weel, ye maun jist len' me half a croon o' 't."
"Half a croon!" echoed Grizzie, staggered at the largeness of the
demand. 'Haith, sir, ye're no blate (BASHFUL)!"
"I dinna think it's ower muckle," said Cosmo, "seein' I hae to
tramp five an' thirty mile the morn. But bake ye plenty o' breid,
an' that'll haud doon the expence. Only, gien he can help it, a
body sudna be wantin' a baubee in 's pooch. Gien ye had nane to gie
me, I wad set oot bare. But jist as ye like, Grizzie! I cud beg to
be sure--noo ye hae shawn the gait," he added, taking the old woman
by the arm with a laugh, that she might not be hurt, "but whan ye
ken ye sudna speir, an' whan ye hae, ye hae no richt to beg."
"Weel, I'll gie ye auchteen pence, an' considerin' a' 'at 's to be
dune wi' what's left, ye'll hae to grant it 's no an oonfair
portion."
"Weel, weel, Grizzie! I'm thinkin' I'll hae to be content."
"'Deed, an' ye wull, sir! Ye s' hae nae mair."
That night the old laird slept soundly, but Cosmo, ever on the
brink of unconsciousness, was blown back by a fresh gust of
gladness. The morning came golden and brave, and his father was
well enough to admit of his leaving him. So he set out, and in the
strength of his relief walked all the way without spending a
half-penny of Grizzie's eighteen pence: two days before, he would
consult his friend how to avoid the bitterest dregs of poverty; now
he must find from him how to make his riches best available!
He did not tell Mr.
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