“Success to Uncle Sandy—he has done it!” cried Harry, with exultation, as he threw Uncle Sandy’s note, which he himself had just glanced at, across the table to Rose. “Read it aloud for the general edification, Rosie. My uncle has always some good counsel for us.”
And Rose, upon whom this duty generally devolved, put little Harry into Martha’s lap, and read the letter.
“My dear Harry,
I have just come home from seeing Miss Jean; and to put you out of pain, I may as well say at once that, to my great astonishment, she has consented like a lamb; so that I called on Mr. Macer, on my road home, and told him he might go the very same afternoon and conclude the matter; and I suppose you will get the siller very soon. But Harry, my man, mind what I said to you, and take good thought and competent counsel before you begin to lay it out, for I have heard folk say that ye may sow siller broadcast on land, and if it’s no wisely done, you may be left ne’er a hair the better after all. I do not pretend to be learned about farming; but mind, Harry, and take good advice before you begin to spend this siller.
Your propine of the ham was very well taken, and did me good in my errand; but I will never wish you an errand like it, Harry. Poor old desolate woman, it makes my heart sore to see her strong grip of the world, and worse than that, her grudge at you and the like of you, for the strength and youth which Jean Calder had in her day, but could not hoard like siller. I cannot get this out of my head, for it aye rejoices me myself to see the new life springing, and my heart blesses it; and Jean Calder, if years are anything, should be nearer the end than me.
Ye may tell Violet and Katie that the bairns here are just laying the table in the garden, and that we are all to get our four hours’ of strawberries and cream. So being a little wearied after my battle with Miss Jean, and the bairns being clamorous for me outbye, and besides the first part of this letter being what will most content you, Harry, the rest of the bairns will make allowance for me if I say no more at the present writing.
Alexander Muir.”
“Well done, Uncle Sandy! He is the prince of plenipotentiaries!” said the triumphant Harry, who, in the meantime, had opened another letter. “And here’s a note from Charteris. He’s coming to-day to pay us a visit, Agnes. You must give him the best room, and do him all honour—but for him, we might never have seen Allenders. Does anybody know, by the bye, what first set Charteris to search for the heir? Do you, Rosie?”
“Harry, me!”
Rose hastily drew little Harry upon her lap again, and looked very much amazed and innocent; but the colour rose over her face, and the small heir of Allenders felt her brow burn as he pulled her hair. His father laughed, and pulled Rose’s dark love-locks too.