The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Willie Gillies. 75
answered me first. But when George had satisfied hi -self
by a long-searching stare (children and uneducated people
have a wonderful power of reading people by a steady
perusal of their looks) that I was not a dangerous animal,
he took the lead, and told me that their brother Willie had
been poorly, but that he was now better, and had that day
got out of bed the first time for a month. " And,'' he con-
cluded, " Mamma and Kate and I ?.nd everybody are so
glad."
I was equally glad, and followed the children into the
cottage, where I found Willie seated on a chair by the fire-
side, propped up b\' cushions, and that everlasting
Justinian in his hands. I was shocked at his appearance.
His mother assured me, however, that he looked better
that day, and that the medical men of the district said he
would improve dail}' {{ he was well taken care of.
" But," she said with tears, " that is easier said than
done. We have nothing to give him that can do him good
but our love. And m}' rich brother never thinks of our
wants, while Willie will not let me receive money from
neighbours that offer, and whom, tide what might betide, I
would by and by repay."
mother," remonstrated Willie, " do not speak
thus. I will get sooner better on bread and milk than on
" Oh !
anything else. I feel getting quite strong ; and in case I
die it will make me miserable to leave you in debt."
He appealed to me, telling their circumstances, and
explaining that the mother's small annual allowance had
been forestalled to pay the e.xpenses attendants on his ill-
ness. Little George had gone out to herd to a farmer near
to the village, but came daily to see his brother. Kate
had, in order to help her mother, given up attendance at a
school where she was training for governessing, and thus
the economy of the whole little circle had been disturbed
by the illness of the elder brother. The lad's recovery was
retarded by his anxiety -^ot to be a burden, and by the
want of generous diet, which his horror of debt prevented
Mrs Gillies from procuring.