"The day is near," he said, sombrely, "I must be stepping"; and for a breath or two he looked Rob in the eyes.
"And I, too, if I may go with you," said Rob, casting a glance at his aunt.
For a moment she struggled with her anger, then, taking him roughly by the shoulder, she shook him.
"Go then," she cried, "but dinna say it was with my leave. And you, sir, do what you can for him."
"Madam," said the stranger, wrapping his greatcoat about him, "I promise you that."
"What name do ye go by?" asked Mistress Macpherson, of a sudden.
He appeared for an instant slightly put about.
"The name I go by," repeated he, "is Muckle John."
"That's no sort of name," she snapped.
"It's sufficient for me," he replied, and touching Rob on the shoulder, they passed into the street.