"A king can mak' a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, and a' that;
An honest man's above his might."
Frank went and kissed his mother, and then ran straight out of the room.
Now Fred and Toddie, arrayed in their best, had several times visited at the house of Benshee. Frank had driven them over, and Fred at Frank's request had always brought his flute. For a boy of his years he was a charming performer. Frank played a little trick upon his lady mother. He went into her studio, which abutted on to the lawn, leaving Fred behind a bush near to the open window.
When Frank was fairly seated beside his mother, Fred began to play one of those sweet, sad Scottish melodies, that can draw tears to the eyes of even an English audience. Frank kept talking to his mother; but he was soon silenced.
"Hush! hush, boy!" she cried. "Have you no ear for the beautiful?"
She sighed when the air died in cadence away.
"Some poor tramp," said the lady. "Run, Frank, and give him sixpence."
But Fred now appeared at the window, laughing and holding out his hat.
"Oh, you dear lad," cried Mrs. Fielding, "come and kiss me!"
Fred did as told; but not quite so gracefully as an English boy would have done. Only this episode supplied Mrs. Fielding with an idea for being generous without offering insult.