"Except Sundays," answered Cleg, who, as ever, was ready of speech, and not at all shamefaced.
"What does Miss Tennant say?" asked the junior partner, who wished to see where he was being led. He was not a selfish young man, but, like the rest of us, he wanted to be sure what he was going to get out of a thing before he committed himself.
"Miss Tennant's a memb—" began Tam Luke, who had no discretion.
Cleg kicked Tam Luke on the shin severely. Tam promptly coughed, choked, and was led out by unsympathetic friends, who expressed their opinion of him outside with pith and animation.
"Miss Celie wants us to look after this club oorsels," said Cleg. "We are the commy-tee—except Tam Luke," he added. Tam had de facto forfeited his position by his interruption.
The commy-tee hung its head, and looked about for possible exits.
"And who is responsible?" asked Mr. Donald Iverach, smiling a little and shaking his head.
"Me an' Miss Celie," answered Cleg, promptly.
The junior partner stopped shaking his head, but continued to smile.
"Come away, chaps," said Cleg, who knew when the battle was won; "guid nicht to ye, sir, an' thank ye. Miss Celie wull be pleased!"