“So long,” said Willie, lighting a fresh cigarette. “Maybe see ye later.”
“Ah, it’s likely,” Macgregor replied, and turned into the close, glad to escape.
“Haud on!” cried Willie.
“What?” Macgregor halted with reluctance.
Willie sniggered. “I seen ye wi’ Jessie Mary the ither nicht.”
“Did ye?” retorted Macgregor feebly.
“Ay; an’ if I was you, I wud let girls alane. They’re nae fun, an’ they’re awfu’ expensive.”
With which sage advice Willie walked off.
Macgregor made up his mind not to leave the house that evening, yet eight o’clock found him at the foot of the street wherein Jessie Mary lived. But he did not go up the street, and at the end of five minutes he strolled the way he had taken two hours earlier. As he approached a certain shop the light in its window went out. He marched home quickly, looking neither right nor left.
* * * * *