’When ye’ve listened for a while to their squalling, Ronald, my man, jist you get up and show them how an East Lothian lad can do the trick.’ ’What’s that, Mistress? I thought ye said your cousin was frae the Hielans,’ the skipper broke in. ’Frae the Hielans? Frae East Lothian, I tell ye; where I come frae mysel’; and where ye’ll find the brawest lads and lasses in the breadth o’ Scotland,’ she added saucily. ’And they dinna stay a’ at hame either,’ remarked the big skipper, with much gallantry, as the visitors prepared to leave. They went away through the noisy, crowded, glaring streets, and at length entered a spacious dark courtyard, at the head of which was a small and narrow entrance. The skipper led the way; but as they passed up the staircase they became aware of a noise of music overhead; and when they reached the landing, they had to pause there, so as not to interrupt the proceedings within. It was abundantly clear what these were. A man’s voice was singing ’Green grow the rashes, O’ to a smart and lively accompaniment on the piano; while at the end of each verse joined in a sufficiently enthusiastic chorus: _’Green grow the rashes, O,_ _Green grow the rashes, O,_ _The sweetest hours that e’er I spent,_ _Were spent among the lasses, O.’_ and that was repeated: _’Green grow the rashes, O,_ _Green grow the rashes, O,_ _The sweetest hours that e’er I spen’,_ _Were spent among the lasses, O.’_ Then there was silence. The skipper now opened the door; and, as they entered, Ronald found himself near the head of a long and loftily-ceilinged apartment, the atmosphere of which was of a pale blue cast, through the presence of much tobacco smoke. All down this long room were twin rows of small tables, at which little groups of friends or acquaintances sate—respectable looking men they seemed, many of them young fellows, more of them of middle age, and nearly all of them furnished with drinks and pipes or cigars. At the head of the room was a platform, not raised more than a foot from the floor, with a piano at one end of it; and in front of the platform was a special semicircular table, presided over by a bland rubicund gentleman, to whom Ronald was forthwith introduced. Indeed, the newcomers were fortunate enough to find seats at this semicircular table; and when beverages were called for and pipes lit, they waited for the further continuance of the proceedings.