“He will likely be in his grave by the New Year,” said Mrs. Brown, “if he canna get away.” Jane had drawn herself within herself, so to speak. She rose a head taller as she sat, over her tea-tray, her portly person seemed to draw in, the beaming expression departed from her face. To be refused! and by her own boy! and before a stranger! and with a lee! for how could he be without money. He that had got a twenty pound note as she herself knew, only four months before, just a fortune for a callant like Archie? besides more no doubt where that came from, Jims Rowland being just too liberal. It was to Mrs. Brown as if all the waves of the Clyde had dashed into her face. For a moment she could make no reply. “Archie,” she said at last solemnly, “I’m no fond of much troke about money between friends. It’s very likely to lead to ill-blood. But I thought for Colin, that ye once were so fond of, if I might speak--you have maybe,” she said with keen irony, “forgotten who he was. I’ve often seen that folk have but short memories that rise in the world. He’s the lad who got you into your grand club. Ye may not think much of it now, but ‘twas a grand thing for ye then. It was him ye used to consult about your debating and all that, and that was sae good at the footba’, and that learnt ye--” “Do you think I have forgotten, auntie? I have forgotten nothing,” cried Archie, starting up from the table. “It’s just despair,” he said, under his breath. “I havena got it. I havena got it!” He began to pace about the room as his father did with his hands thrust into the depths of his empty pockets, and his shoulders up to his ears. As for Eddy, he turned aside a little and took up the paper Mrs. Brown had been reading, by way of relieving them of the embarrassment of his presence as much as possible during this family dispute. “Well!” said Mrs. Brown, “it is the first time I have askit anything of ye, and it will be the last time, Archie Rowland. Let’s say no more about it. I thought it was just a thing ye would have made no hesitation about, but been mair ready to give than me to ask.” “And so I would,” he cried, “and so I would!” with a sort of groan out of his very heart. “We will just say no more about it,” said Mrs. Brown, with dignity. “Sit down and take your tea.” “I am wanting no tea,” said Archie.