"But how was it you never did it before?" asked the Tailor doubtfully.
"We were idle, we were idle," said Tommy.
The Tailor's voice rose to a pitch of desperation—
"But if you did the work," he shouted, "where is the Brownie?"
"Here!" cried the boys, "and we are very sorry that we were Boggarts so long."
With which the father and sons fell into each other's arms and fairly wept.
It will be believed that to explain all this to the Grandmother was not the work of a moment. She understood it all at last, however, and the Tailor could not restrain a little good-humoured triumph on the subject. Before he went to work he settled her down in the window with her knitting, and kissed her.
"What do you think of it all, Mother?" he inquired.
"Bairns are a blessing," said the old lady tartly, "I told you so."