Jock sprang out, shutting the door after him, and rattling down-stairs reached the street just as Mary was within a few yards. When she was passing the close, he stepped out, and with a kind voice, said: "I hae a message for your faither, Mary dear! Jist speak to me aff the street." Mary, no longer associating Hall with the thought of a wild man, but of one who had been a guest of the Sergeant’s, entered the close. Jock Hall gave her the flowers and said: "Gie this posey to your mither, for the gran’ tea she made for me; and gie this half-croon to yer faither for the braw boots he patched for me. Noo run awa’, my bonnie lassie, and be guid, and do whatever yer faither and mither bid ye, or Jock Hall wull be angry wi’ ye--run!" Mrs. Craigie, in her excitement and curiosity, could not resist the temptation of going again to the window, and no sooner had she seen Mary enter the close than she ran to her retreat behind the door, whispering joyfully to Mrs. Dalrymple, "The wee deevil is catched, and coming!" In a moment Jock was at the door, and while he firmly held the key outside, he opened it so far as to let in his head. Then addressing the women, he said in an under-breath, or rather hiss: "Whisht! dinna speak! I catched her! I gied her the posey for Mrs. Mercer--I gied her the half-croon to pay Mr. Mercer for my boots!--and she’s hame!--an’ ye’ll never get her!--You twa limmers are cheated! If ye cheep, I’ll tell the Shirra. Jock Hall is nae hypocrite! Deil tak’ ye baith, and Smellie likewise! I’m aff!" and before a word could be spoken by the astonished conspirators, Jock locked the door upon them, and flinging the key along the passage he sprang down-stairs and fled no one knew whither! Mary gave the bouquet of flowers to Mrs. Mercer, whose only remark was: "Wha wad hae thocht it!" and she gave the half-crown to Adam, who said: "I never hae been as thankfu’ for a day’s wage! Pit it in the drawer, and keep it for Jock. I’m no feared but wi’ God’s help I’ll mak’ a sodger o’ him yet! For as Charlie’s bairn weel remarks: ’A man’s a man for a’ that’." CHAPTER XV JOCK HALL’S JOURNEY