Jock took the proffered hand, and said, "I dinna understan’ a’ this--but--but--I was gaun to say, God bless ye! But it’s no’ for me to say that; for I never was in a decent hoose afore--but only in jails, and amang tramps and ne’er-do-weels like mysel’. I’m no’ up tae menners, Sergeant--ye maun excuse me." Jock rose to depart. Before doing so he looked again round the comfortable clean room--at the nice fire and polished grate--at Charlie’s bed with its white curtains--and at the bird, so happy in its cage--then, as if struck by his own ragged clothes and old boots, he exclaimed, "It wasna for me to hae been in a hoose like this." Passing the bedroom door, he waved his hand, saying, "Fareweel, mistress; fareweel, Mary," and turning to the Sergeant, he added, "and as for you, Sergeant----" There he stopped--but ending with a special farewell to the starling, he went to the door. "Come back soon and see me," said the Sergeant. "I’ll be yer freen’, Jock. I hae ’listed ye this day, and I’ll mak’ a sodger o’ ye yet, an’ a better ane, I hope, than mysel’." "Whisht, whisht!" said Jock. "I have mair respec’ for ye than to let ye be _my_ freen’. But for a’ that, mind, I’m no gaun to pay ye for my boots--and ye’ll hae them ready ’gin Friday nicht, for Saturday’s fishin’--fareweel!" "A’ richt, Jock," said Adam. No sooner had Hall left the house than the Sergeant said to himself, "God have mercy on me! I to be unhappy after that! I wi’ Katie and Mary! I wi’ mercies temporal and spiritual mair than can be numbered! Waes me! what have I done! Starling, indeed! that’s surely no’ the question--but starvation, ignorance, cruelty, hate, despair, hell, at our verra doors! God help puir Jock Hall, and may He forgive Adam Mercer!" Jock got his boots on Friday night, well repaired. He said nothing but "Thank ye," and "Ye’ll get naething frae me." But on Saturday evening a fine basket of trout was brought by him to the Sergeant’s door. Jock said, "There’s beauties! Never saw better trout! splendid day!" But when the Sergeant thanked him, and offered him a sixpence, Jock looked with wonder, saying, "Dinna insult a bodie!" CHAPTER XIV JOCK HALL’S CONSPIRACY On the Sunday, when the Sergeant went to church, as we have already described, Jock Hall was quartered for the day with Mrs. Craigie. To do Smellie justice, he did not probably know how very worthless this woman was, far less did the Kirk Session. She was cunning and plausible enough to deceive both. Her occasional attendance at church was sufficient to keep up appearances. The custom of boarding out pauper children with widows, except when these are not respectable, has on the whole worked well, and is infinitely superior to the workhouse system. Mrs. Craigie belonged to the exceptional cases. She accommodated any lodger who might turn up.