And the young man was tall and
stately as a Scandinavian chief, with a look of command, tempered
with patient endurance, in his eagle face, for he was more like an
eagle than any other creature, and in his countenance signs of
suffering. Miss Letty seeing this, was moved, and her heart
swelled, and she grew conscious and shy, and turning to Robert,
said,
'Come up the stair wi' 's, Robert; I may want ye.'
Robert jumped to his feet. His heart too had been yearning towards
the stranger.
As if yielding to the inevitable, Ericson rose and followed Miss
Letty. But when they had reached the room, and the door was shut
behind them, and Miss Letty pointed to a chair beside which stood a
little wooden tub full of hot water, saying, 'Sit ye doon there, Mr.
Ericson,' he drew himself up, all but his graciously-bowed head, and
said,
'Ma'am, I must tell you that I followed the rest in here from the
very stupidity of weariness. I have not a shilling in my pocket.'
'God bless me!' said Miss Letty--and God did bless her, I am
sure--'we maun see to the feet first. What wad ye du wi' a shillin'
gin ye had it? Wad ye clap ane upo' ilka blister?'
Ericson burst out laughing, and sat down. But still he hesitated.
'Aff wi' yer shune, sir. Duv ye think I can wash yer feet throu
ben' leather?' said Miss Letty, not disdaining to advance her
fingers to a shoe-tie.
'But I'm ashamed. My stockings are all in holes.'
'Weel, ye s' get a clean pair to put on the morn, an' I'll darn them
'at ye hae on, gin they be worth darnin', afore ye gang--an' what
are ye sae camstairie (unmanageable) for? A body wad think ye had a
clo'en fit in ilk ane o' thae bits o' shune o' yours.
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