“‘Heavens!’ cried his Majesty, shudderin’; ‘we’re terrible close; put a fire under the aft funnel at a’ costs and get past as quick as we can.’
“It was pointed oot to his Majesty that the toon was evidently expectin’ him, and so, to mak’ things pleasant, he ordered the steam pinnace to land the week’s washin’ at the Charin’. Cross o’ the Hielan’s—while the Victoria and Albert went on her way to Ballachulish.”
X HOW JINNET SAW THE KING
I saw him and her on Thursday,” said Erchie, “as nate’s ye like, and it didna cost me mair nor havin’ my hair cut. They gaed past oor kirk, and the session put up a stand, and chairges ten shillin’s a sate.
“‘Not for Joe,’ says I; ‘I’d sooner buy mysel’ a new pair o’ boots;’ and I went to Duffy and says I, ‘Duffy, are ye no’ gaun to hae oot yer bonny wee lorry at the heid o’ Gairbraid Street and ask the wife and Jinnet and me to stand on’t?’
“‘Right,’ says Duffy, ‘bring you Jinnet and I’ll tak’ my wife, and we’ll hae a rale pant.’
“So there was the four o’ us standin’ five mortal ‘oors on Duffy’s coal-lorry. I was that gled when it was a’ bye. But I’ll wager there was naebody gledder nor the King himsel’, puir sowl! Frae the time he cam’ into Gleska at Queen Street Station till the time he left Maryhill, he lifted his hat three million seven hundred and sixty-eight thousand and sixty-three times.
“Talk aboot it bein’ a fine job bein’ a King! I can tell ye the money’s gey hard earned. Afore he starts oot to see his beloved people, he has to practise for a week wi’ the dumb-bells, and feed himsel’ up on Force, Grape-nuts, Plasmon, Pianolio, and a’ thae strengthenin’ diets that Sunny Jim eats.