Filling all of
the outer wall between the peephole, leaded windows and running-
up to the slope of the ceiling, was a great fireplace of native
white freestone, carved into fluted columns, foliated capitals,
and a flat pediment of purest classic lines. The ballroom of a
noble of Queen Mary's day had been cut up into numerous small
sleeping closets, many of them windowless, and were let to the
chance lodger at threepence the night. Here, where generations of
dancing toes had been warmed, the chimney vent was bricked up,
and a boxed-in shelf fitted, to serve for a bed, a seat and a
table, for such as had neither time nor heart for dancing. For
the romantic history and the beauty of it, Auld Jock had no mind
at all. But, ah! he had other joy often missed by the more
fortunate.
"Be canny, Bobby," he cautioned again.
The sagacious little dog understood, and pattered about the place
silently. Exhausting it in a moment, and very plainly puzzled and
bored, he sat on his haunches, yawned wide, and looked up
inquiringly to his master. Auld Jock set the jug and the candle
on the floor and slipped off his boots. He had no wish to "wauken
'is neebors." With nervous haste he threw back one of the windows
on its hinges, reached across the wide stone ledge and brought
in-wonder of wonders, in such a place a tiny earthen pot of
heather!
"Is it no' a bonny posie?" he whispered to Bobby. With this
cherished bit of the country that he had left behind him the
April before in his hands, he sat down in the fireplace bed and
lifted Bobby beside him.
Pages:
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56