’It’s easy getting out o’ that difficulty,’ said the big skipper, who was of a less sympathetic nature than the old musician. ’What for does he no stay at hame? He doesna need to gang driving wi’ her unless he likes.’ ’It’s no easy getting away frae Mrs. Menzies,’ the old man said shrewdly, ’if she has a mind to take ye wi’ her. And she hersel’ sees that he canna afford to spend money even on little things; and yet she’s feared to say anything to him. Man, dinna ye mind when she wanted him to take a room in the house?—what was that but that she meant him to have his board free? But no—the deevil has got some o’ the Hielan pride in him; she was just feared to say anything mair about it. And at the club, too, it’s no every one he’ll drink wi’ though there’s plenty ready to stand Sam, now that Ronald is kent as a writer o’ poetry. Not that but wi’ ithers he’s ower free—ay, confound him, he’s getting the reputation o’ a harum-scarum deil—if he takes a liking to a man, he’ll gang off wi’ him and his neighbours for the time being, and goodness knows when or where they’ll stop. A bottle o’ whisky in their pocket, and off they’ll make; I heard the other week o’ him and some o’ them finding themselves at daybreak in Helensburgh—naught would do the rascal the night before but that he maun hae a sniff o’ the saut sea-air; and off they set, him and them, the lang night through, until the daylight found them staring across to Roseneath and Kempoch Point. He’s no in the best o’ hands, that’s the fact. If he would but marry the widow——’ ’What would Jimmy Laidlaw say to that?’ the skipper said, with a loud laugh. ’Jimmy Laidlaw? He hasna the ghost o’ a chance so long as this young fellow’s about. Kate’s just daft about him; but he’s no inclined that way, I can see—unless hunger should tame him. Weel, M’Taggart, I dinna like to see the lad being led away to the mischief. He’s got into ill hands. If it’s the want o’ a settled way o’ leevin that’s worrying him, and driving him to gang wild and reckless at times, something should be done. I’m an auld man now; I’ve seen ower many young fellows like that gang to auld Harry; and I like this lad—I’m no going to stand by and look on without a word.’ ’Ay, and what would ye hiv me dae, Peter? Take him as a hand on board the _Mary Jane_?’ ’Na, na. The lad maun gang on wi’ his surveying and that kind o’ thing—though he seems less and less to think there’ll be any solid outcome frae it. But what think ye o’ this? There’s Mr. Jackson paying they professionals from week to week; and here’s a fellow wi’ a finer natural voice than any o’ them—if it had but a little training. Well, now, why shouldna Jackson pay the lad for his singing?’ ’Not if he can get it for nothing, Peter!’