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of Hamilton, Prank and Fergus; and having watched theta grow from childhood
to manhood, fed them when their childish wanderings brought them over
Kocknadreemally, and consoled then when they had been punished at home,
she looked on them almost as her own sons.
Knowing that he would receive good advice, and possibly sympathy,
Pentland climbed the road one afternoon to Sampson’s cottage, «hen he
entered, he found Petie seated on one side of the fire with his dog
Kipper which rested its head on its master’s outstretched legs and communed
silently with him through half-closed golden eyes. On the other side sat
Agnes knitting, her skirt gathered into her lap and her woollen petticoat
kilted to her knees.
"Good-day to ye” said the young man pausing in the doorway. Agues
narrowed her eyes to see who it was that stood silhouetted in the bright
doorway, while Petie, too indolent to turn around, scanned her face as
if hoping to see reflected there the identity of the visitor. "Ah, Fergus,
ye scairt us!” cried Agnes when she recognised who it was. "Gome in, con,
and dont stand there like a bagman. ut that animal away from ye, otie,
and let Fergus sit down. She enquired after the young man’s grandmother,
and then Pentland fell to stroking the dog’s head and there was silence
for a time.
"And are ye bravely yourseLf” enquired Agnes at last.
Fergus paused long enough to give his answer the proper note of
doubt and despondency. "Ah, 1 suppose I’m rightly, he answered with a
slight nod that implied exactly the opposite.
Agnes glanced quickly at him over her knitting, "Petie" she said
take that animal away out and hae a dander t’yoursel’". Obediently the
old man pushed Kipper towards the door and left the house.
