"Be quiet, my puir fellow," said the Sergeant, "and listen to me. _I_ never harmed you, Jock; I couldna harm you! I never wull harm you. I’ll feed ye noo; I’ll gie ye shoon; I’ll stan’ yer frien’." Jock looked up, and in a calm tone said, "My head is spinnin’ and my heart is sick! I havena eaten a bit since yesterday. Dinna flyte on me e’enoo, I’m no mysel’; wait a wee, Mr. Mercer, and then ye can abuse me, or kick me." With still greater calm he added in a few seconds, and looking round like one waking up more and more into life, "I hae been dreaming or raving! Man, Mercer, I think I tak’ fits sometimes--especially when I’m lang wi’oot meat. What was I saying e’enoo?" "Naething particular," said Adam, wishing not to rouse him, but to feed him; "never heed, Jock. But bide a wee, I’ll gie ye a nice cup of tea and a smoke after it, and we’ll hae a crack, and ye’ll comfort me in yer ain way, and I’ll comfort you in mine." Jock, like a man worn out with some great exertion, sat with his head bent down between his hands--the veins of his forehead swollen. The Sergeant, after some private explanation with Katie, got tea and wholesome food ready for Jock; and that he might take it in peace, Adam said that he had to give Mary another lesson in the bedroom. Hall was thus left alone with his food, of which he ate sparingly. When Adam again entered the kitchen, Jock was calm. The Sergeant soon engaged him in conversation after his own method, beginning by telling some of his soldier stories, and then bit by bit unfolding the Gospel of Peace to the poor man, and seeking to drop a few loving words from his own softened heart to soften the heart of the Prodigal. The only remark Jock made was, "I wish I’d been in a battle, and been shot, or dee’d wi’ oor Jamie! But what for did I tell _you_ a’ this? I never spak’ this way to mortal man! It’s that bird, I tell ye. What’s wrang wi’t?" "Naething!" replied the Sergeant; "it’s a’ nonsense ye’re talking. I’ll let ye see the cratur, to convince ye that he is jist as natural and nice as a mavis or laverock." "Stop!" said Jock, "I dinna like him. He is ower guid for me! I tell ye I’m a deevil! But bad as I am--and I’ll never be better, nor ever do ae haun’s turn o’ guid in this world--never, never, never!----" The Sergeant rose and took down the cage, placing it before Hall, saying, "Jist look at his speckled breest and bonnie ee! Gie him this bit bread yersel’, and he’ll be cheerie, and mak’ us a’ cheerie." Jock took the bread and offered it to Charlie, who, seeing the gift, declared "A man’s a man for a’ that!" "Guid be aboot us!" said Hall, starting back; "hear what he says to me! If that’s no’ a witch, there’s nane on yirth! I said I was a deevil, he says I’m a man!" "And sae ye _are_ a man for a’ that, and no sic a bad ane as ye think. Cheer up, Jock!" said Adam, extending his hand to him.