The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

588 The B.i^-Jiland Monthly.
" Sic pairtin's are tryin' things for a budy,'' sympathised
John, recaHing his last interview with Chirsty. " Are ye
tae be lang awa', may I speer ?"
" That will depend upon circumstances."
" Yer health, and sic like ?"
"Just so."
" Like they Ha' folk, yer depairture's gey sudden,"
pursued John, despite Richard's apparent disinclination
for conversation. " It'll be a lang time till we see them
atween the een again, sir."
" They are coming back in a short time, I understand."
" It's no verra like it."
" Why ?"
" Folk intendin' tae come back dinna get their things
packed up for America," replied John with a chuckle*
proud of being better informed than his young master, and
he " sic freens wi' the gay leddy tae."
" How do you know that?" Richard asked with surprise.
^' Oh, I jist hae speeshial means o' information, sir," was
John's response, determined to magnify the case.
" Are you certain about this, John ; for allow me to
tell you that I know something of the Professor's inten-
tions, and where he is at the present moment, in fact."
"As certain's I'm sittin' in this gig driving this dourheaded
mare. Gee up, ye auld fule, an' no caper an' glower
that way. D'ye no ken a milestane yet ?" and with a firm
application of the whip, he again got the animal into smooth
working. " As certain's I've een in my heid," he added.
" You saw the things, as you call them, packed, labelled,
and addressed ?"
" I did every bit o' that."
"Well, I'm a little surprised, John."
It was certainly mysterious, Richard reflected, after
what the Professor had written ; but, perhaps, when he
reached Edinburgh he had been compelled to change his
plans.
" Oh !
I see, John, the Professor has changed his mind,
since he went south."