“What have you had to-day?” I asked.
“I’ve been in the dock all day,” he answered evasively, “but I’m no great eater at the best of times, and I chewed two bits of orange-peel, not to speak of a handful of corn where there was a big heap had been spilt by some wasteful body or another, that had small thoughts of it’s coming to use. Now hoo in this world’s a man to make honest profit on a commodity he entrusts ——”
“Sh! sh! You’re raising your voice again,” said I. “Where’s your hand? It’s only a cake, but it’ll be
better than nothing,” And I held out the cake Biddy had made me put in my pocket.
“I’ll no take it from ye. Keep it for your own needs; I’m harder than yourself, it’s likely,” he said, pushing my hand aside, and added almost peevishly, “but keep the smell of it from me.”
“I can spare it perfectly,” I whispered. “I’ve had plenty to eat quite lately.”
I shall never forget how he clutched it then. I could hear his teeth clash with the eagerness of his eating. It almost frightened me in the darkness.
“Eh! man, that was good!” he gasped. “Are ye sure indeed and in truth ye could spare it all? I didn’t think they made such bannocks out of Scotland. But we’ve much to learn in all matters, doubtless. Thank ye a thousand times.”
“The old Irishwoman gave it me!” I said with some malice. “She made me put it in my pocket, though she had given me a good meal before, for which she would take nothing.”
“It was leeberal of her,” said Alister Auchterlay. “Verra leeberal; but there are good Christians to be met with, amongst all sorts, there’s not a doot aboot it.”