"It does my heart good to see you and your brother," he exclaimed, as he came up. "Grandfather!" cried Robby, "they have brought me all sorts of nice things--look here, look here!" and Robby led the old man into the cottage that he might exhibit the gifts he had received. "They would not come in themselves, but said they would wait till you returned. I think the young gentleman would like some of the fruit, for he looked at it when his sister gave it to me. Can I run out and offer it to him? Perhaps, though, he will be offended, for he looks very proud." "Yes, Robby, go and give the young gentleman some fruit," said old Alec, who was at the time turning his eyes towards several cages which hung against the wall, with birds in most of them. He first looked at one, and then at another and another. At last he selected one neater and prettier than the rest, containing a linnet. "This will be the thing for the little damsel," he observed. "If it was made of gold it would not be too good for her." Fanny and Norman had still remained outside seated on a bench in the shade. They did not observe Robby, who came back with some of the fruit, intending to bring it to them, but feeling somewhat shy of presenting it, he placed it in the carriage, where he thought they would soon see it. The old man, going to a window which overlooked the spot where they were seated, called to Fanny. "Here, my dear young lady; an old man such as I am has but few things which you would care for, but I shall be greatly pleased if you will accept this little bird and its cage. Hang it up in your room where it can enjoy sunlight and air, and if you feed it and give it water regularly, it will sing sweetly to you in the morning and at all times of the day." "Oh, thank you! thank you! what a dear, sweet, little bird! There is nothing I shall like to have so much, and I hope mamma and granny will allow me to receive it." Fanny was so delighted with the gift, that she felt she could not find words enough to thank old Alec for it. "The gift is a very poor one, but I shall be just as much pleased as you are, if you will receive it," answered the old man, as he put the cage into Fanny's hands. The bird did not seem at all startled or afraid of her, but hopped about from perch to perch, and uttered a few gentle notes, as if it was much pleased at having her for its future mistress. "But I have kept you waiting a long time outside," said the old man. "You must come in for a few minutes to rest, before you begin your journey home; and I have got some sweet milk and a fresh bannock--a better one than I had to offer you the other day. You will go back all the merrier for a little food." Fanny thought it would please the old man to accept his invitation, and perhaps too, she might be able to get him to tell her and Norman some of the adventures which the laird said he had gone through, so calling to Norman, and holding the cage in her hands, she went into the house.