“A very good infection to take, Agnes,” replied the master, with a smile of thorough pleasure, “and one that will do more for you than the cow-pox. Come to me as often as you can--and as you like. I think I shall be able to tell you some things to make you happier.” “’Deed, sir. I’m in no want o’ happiness! O’ that I hae full mair nor I deserve; but I want a heap for a’ that. I canna say what it is, for the hoonger is for what I haena.” “Another of God’s children!” said the master to himself, “and full of the groanings of the spirit! The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them.” He often quoted scripture as the people of the New Testament did--not much minding the original application of the words. Those that are filled with the spirit, have always taken liberties with the letter. That very evening before she went home, they had a talk about algebra, and several other things. Agnes went no more to school, but almost every day to see the master, avoiding the hours when Cosmo would be there. CHAPTER XII. GRANNIE’S GHOST STORY. Things went on very quietly. The glorious days of harvest came and went, and left the fields bare for the wintry revelling of great blasts. The potatoes were all dug up, and again buried--deeper than before, in pits, with sheets of straw and blankets of earth to protect them from the biting of the frost. Their stalks and many weeds with them were burned, and their ashes scattered. Some of the land was ploughed, and some left till the spring. Before the autumn rains the stock of peats was brought from the hill, where they had been drying through the hot weather, and a splendid stack they made. Coal was carted from the nearest sea-port, though not in such quantity as the laird would have liked, for money was as scarce as ever, and that is to put its lack pretty strongly. Everything available for firewood was collected, and, if of any size, put under saw and axe, then stored in the house. Good preparation was thus made for the siege of the winter.