"Yes, I think sae, Peter, and I say it," said Robin; "and there is but ae remedy left." "And what is that!" asked Patie, eagerly. "Just this," said Robin--"_stop the supplies_." "_Stop the supplies!_" returned Patie--"what do you mean, Robin? I canna say that I fully comprehend ye." "I just mean this," added the other; "be your ain banker--your ain cashier--be maister o' your ain siller--let her find that it is to you she is indebted for every penny she has the power to spend; and if ye dinna bring Tibby to reason and kindness within a month, my name's no Robin Roughead." "Do ye think that wad do it?" said Patie. "If that wadna, naething wad," answered Robin; "but try it for a twelvemonth--begin this very nicht; and if we baith live and be spared to this time next year, I'll meet ye again, and I'll be the death o' a mutchkin, but that ye tell me Tibby's a different woman--your bairns different--your hail house different--and your auld mither comfortable." "O man, if it might be sae," said Patie; "but this very nicht, the moment I get hame, I'll try it--and, if I succeed, I'll try ye wi' a bottle o' wine, and I believe I never drank ane in my life." "Agreed," said Robin; "but mind ye're no to do things by halves. Ye're no to be feared out o' your resolution because Tibby may fire and storm, and let drive the things in the house at ye--nor even though she should greet." "I thoroughly understand ye," said Patie; "my resolution's ta'en, and I'll stand by it." "Gie's your hand on't," said Robin; and Patie gave him his hand. Now the two friends parted, and it is unnecessary for me either to describe their parting, or the reception which Patie, on his arriving at Birgham, met with from his spouse. Twelve months went round, Dunse fair came again, and after the fair was over, Patie Crichton once more went in quest of his old friend, Robin Roughead. He found him standing in the horse market, and-- "How's a' wi' ye, my freend?" says Patie. "Oh, hearty, hearty," cries the other; "but how's a' wi' ye?--how is yer family?" "Come and get the bottle o' wine that I've to gie ye," said Patie, "and I'll tell ye a' about it." "I'll do that," said Robin, "for my business is dune." So they went into the same house in the Castle Wynd where they had been twelve months before, and Patie called for a bottle of wine; but he found that the house had not the wine license, and was therefore content with a gill of whisky made into toddy. "O man," said he to Robin, "I wad pay ye half a dizen bottles o' wine wi' as great cheerfu'ness as I raise this glass to my lips. It was a grand advice that o' yours--_stop the supplies_." "I am glad to hear it," said Robin; "I was sure it was the only thing that would do." "Ye shall hear a' about it," said Patie. "After parting wi' ye, I trudged hame to Birgham, and when I got to my house--before I had the sneck o' the door weel out o' my hand--