The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

70 7he Highland Monthly.
of my brother and sister-in-law, a painful recollection of
negligence towards Willie Gillies should cross my mind ?
Why should the impression be so strong that I hastened
my intended visit to Edinburgh purposely in order to
enquire after him ? If the reader refuse to accept the
theory of extensive influences of sympathy which has been
alluded to, I have no explanation to give. When I entered
the eating-house at the usual dinner hour, the first glance
satisfied me that no Willie was there. I asked the land-
lord for information. The honest fellow shook his head
and answered my enquiries in a way that did his kind
heart credit :
—
" The puir callant—he's o'er guid for the world !
And
he is o'er proud to be helpit. Ods sir, I am glad to see
you, because Willie the day he left spoke about ye. He
juist clean exhausted himself in that d office, trying to
satisy the auld deevil of a lawyer by working double since
he coudna pay the prentice fee. And when he was out o»
the office it was nae better. His nose was atween the twa
brods of a bulk, when it ought to hae been atween the
blankets, and his head was racked with long-nebbit words
when it ought to hae been dreaming of the wimpling burns
of his ain couni-rie. Weel did the wise man say that
muckle reading is a weariness to the flesh."
" Has Willie left Edinburgh ?"
" He has been ta'en awa."
" Goodness gracious !
you
don't mean to say he's dead ?
Did you not say just now that he was living ?"
" Weel, I hope he is leeving, but ye're sae hasty, sir. I'll
tell ye it a' from the beginning if ye let me speak my ain
gate. When ye went awa, he settled down to his buiks
waur than ever. Exercise, ye ken, the bonnie daunders
into the country and round by Arthur Seat was nae mair
thocht off. Then cam a want of appetite, and a short
hoast which told a clear tale that the puir laddie was
pining awa. At last I was frichtened aboot the laddie's
ailment, and sent the guid wife to the auld toon to speak