nd　the　urging　of　wee　Bobby；　Auld　Jock　came　the　short；　steep　way　up　out　of　the　market；　to　the　row　of　lighted　shops　in　Greyfriars　Place。
  With　the　wind　at　the　back　and　above　the　housetops；　Mr。　Traill　stood　bare…headed　in　a　dry　haven　of　peace　in　his　doorway；　firelight　behind　him；　and　welcome　in　his　shrewd　gray　eyes。　If　Auld　Jock　had　shown　any　intention　of　going　by；　it　is　not　impossible　that　the　landlord　of　Ye　Olde　Greyfriars　Dining…Rooms　might　have　dragged　him　in　bodily。　The　storm　had　driven　all　his　customers　home。　For　an　hour　there　had　not　been　a　soul　in　the　place　to　speak　to；　and　it　was　so　entirely　necessary　for　John　Traill　to　hear　his　own　voice　that　he　had　been　known；　in　such　straits；　to　talk　to　himself。　Auld　Jock　was　not　an　inspiring　auditor；　but　a　deal　better　than　naething　；　and；　if　he　proved　hopeless；　entertainment　was　to　be　found　in　Bobby。　So　Mr。　Traill　bustled　in　before　his　guests；　poked　the　open　fire　into　leaping　flames；　and　heaped　it　up　skillfully　at　the　back　with　fresh　coals。　The　good　landlord　turned　from　his　hospitable　task　to　find　Auld　Jock　streaming　and　shaking　on　the　hearth。
  〃Man；　but　you're　wet！〃　he　exclaimed。　He　hustled　the　'old　shepherd　out　of　his　dripping　plaid　and　greatcoat　and　spread　them　to　the　blaze。　Auld　Jock　found　a　dry；　knitted　Tam…o'…Shanter　bonnet　in　his　little　bundle　and　set　it　on　his　head。　It　was　a　moment　or　two　before　he　could　speak　without　the　humiliating　betrayal　of　chattering　teeth。
  〃Ay；　it's　a　misty　nicht；〃　he　admitted；　with　caution。
  〃Misty！　Man；　it's　raining　like　all　the　seven　deils　were　abroad。〃　Having　delivered　himself　of　this　violent　opinion；　Mr。　Traill　fell　into　his　usual　philosophic　vein。　〃I　have　sma'　patience　with　the　Scotch　way　of　making　little　of　everything。　If　Noah　had　been　a　Lowland　Scot　he'd　'a'　said　the　deluge　was　juist　fair　wet。〃'
  He　laughed　at　his　own　wit；　his　thin…featured　face　and　keen　gray　eyes　lighting　up　to　a　kindliness　that　his　brusque　speech　denied　in　vain。　He　had　a　fluency　of　good　English　at　command　that　he　would。　have　thought　ostentatious　to　use　in　speaking　with　a　simple　country　body。
  Auld　Jock　stared　at　Mr。　Traill　and　pondered　the　matter。　By　and　by　he　asked：　〃Wasna　the　deluge　fair　wet？〃
  The　landlord　sighed　but；　brought　to　book　like　that；　admitted　that　it　was。　Conversation　flagged；　however；　while　he　busied　himself　with　toasting　a　smoked　herring；　and　dragging　roasted　potatoes　from　the　little　iron　oven　that　was　fitted　into　the　brickwork　of　the　fireplace　beside　the　grate。
  Bobby　was　attending　to　his　own　entertainment。　The　familiar　place　wore　a　new　and　enchanting　aspect；　and　needed　instant　exploration。　By　day　it　was　fitted　with　tables；　picketed　by　chairs　and　all　manner　of　boots。　Noisy　and　crowded；　a　little　dog　that　wandered　about　there　was　liable　to　be　trodden　upon。　On　that　night　of　storm　it　was　a　vast；　bright　place；　so　silent　one　could　hear　the　ticking　of　the　wag…at…the…wa'　clock；　the　crisp　crackling　of　the　flames；　and　the　snapping　of　the　coals。　The　uncovered　deal　tables　were　set　back　in　a　double　line　along　one　wall；　with　the　chairs　piled　on　top；　leaving　a　wide　passage　of　freshly　scrubbed　and　sanded　oaken　floor　from　the　door　to　the　fireplace。　Firelight　danced　on　the　dark　old　wainscoting　and　high；　carved　overmantel；　winked　on　rows　of　drinking　mugs　and　metal　covers　over　cold　meats　on　the　buffet；　and　even　picked　out　the　gilt　titles　on　the　backs　of　a　shelf　of　books　in　Mr。　Traill's　private　corner　behind　the　bar。
  Bobby　shook　himself　on　the　hearth　to　free　his　rain…coat　of　surplus　water。　To　the　landlord's　dry　〃We're　no'　needing　a　shower　in　the　house。　Lie　down；　Bobby；〃　he　wagged　his　tail　politely；　as　a　sign　that　he　heard。　But；　as　Auld　Jock　did　not　repeat　the　order；　he　ignored　it　and　scampered　busily　about　the　room；　leaving　little　trails　of　wet　behind　him。
  This　grill…room　of　Traill's　place　was　more　like　the　parlor　of　a　country　inn；　or　a　farm…house　kitchen　if　there　had　been　a　built…in　bed　or　two；　than　a　restaurant　in　the　city。　There；　a　humble　man　might　see　his　herring　toasted；　his　bannocks　baked　on　the　oven…top；　or　his　tea　brewed　to　his　liking。　On　such　a　night　as　this　the　landlord　would　pull　the　settle　out　of　the　inglenook　to　the　set　before　the　solitary　guest　a　small　table；　and　keep　the　kettle　on　the　hob。
  〃Spread　yoursel'　on　both　sides　o'　the　fire；　man。　There'll　be　nane　to　keep　us　company；　I'm　thinking。　Ilka　man　that　has　a　roof　o'　his　ain　will　be　wearing　it　for　a　bonnet　the　nicht。〃
  As　there　was　no　answer　to　this；　the　skilled　conversational　angler　dropped　a　bit　of　bait　that　the　wariest　man　must　rise　to。
  〃That's　a　vera　intelligent　bit　dog；　Auld　Jock。　He　was　here　with　the　time…gun　spiering　for　you。　When　he　didna　find　you　he　greeted　like　a　bairn。〃
  Auld　Jock；　huddled　in　the　corner　of　the　settle；　so　near　the　fire　that　his　jacket　smoked；　took　so　long　a　time　to　find　an　answer　that　Mr。　Traill　looked　at　him　keenly　as　he　set　the　wooden　plate　and　pewter　mug　on　the　table。
  〃Man；　you're　vera　ill；〃　he　cried；　sharply。　In　truth　he　was　shocked　and　self…accusing　because　he　had　not　observed　Auld　Jock's　condition　before。
  〃I'm　no'　so　awfu'　ill；〃　came　back　in　irritated　denial；　as　if　he　had　been　accused　of　some　misbehavior。
  〃Weel；　it's　no'　a　dry　herrin'　ye'll　hae　in　my　shop　the　nicht。　It's　a　hot　mutton　broo　wi'　porridge　in　it；　an'　bits　o'　meat　to　tak'　the　cauld　oot　o'　yer　auld　banes。〃
  And　there；　the　plate　was　whisked　away；　and　the　cover　lifted　from　a　bubbling　pot；　and　the　kettle　was　over　the　fire　for　the　brewing　of　tea。　At　a　peremptory　order　the　soaked　boots　and　stockings　were　off；　and　dry　socks　found　in　the　kerchief　bundle。　Auld　Jock　was　used　to　taking　orders　from　his　superiors；　and　offered　no　resistance　to　being　hustled　after　this　manner　into　warmth　and　good　cheer。　Besides；　who　could　have　withstood　that　flood　of　homely　speech　on　which　the　good　landlord　came　right　down　to　the　old　shepherd's　humble　level？　Such　warm　feeling　was　established　that　Mr。　Traill　quite　forgot　his　usual　caution　and　certain　well…known　prejudices　of　old　country　bodies。
  〃Noo；〃　he　said　cheerfully；　as　he　set　the　hot　broth　on　the　table；　〃ye　maun　juist　hae　a　doctor。〃
  A　doctor　is　the　last　resort　of　the　unlettered　poor。　The　very　threat　of　one　to　the　Scotch　peasant　of　a　half…century　ago　was　a　sentence　of　death。　Auld　Jock　blanched；　and　he　shook　so　that　he　dropped　his　spoon。　Mr。　Traill　hastened　to　undo　the　mischief。
  〃It's　no'　a　doctor　ye'll　be　needing；　ava；　but　a　bit　dose　o'　physic　an'　a　bed　in　the　infirmary　a　day　or　twa。〃
  〃I　wullna　gang　to　the　infairmary。　It's　juist　for　puir　toon　bodies　that　are　aye　ailin'　an'　deein'。〃　Fright　and　resentment　lent　the　silent　old　man　an　astonishing　eloquence　for　the　moment。　〃Ye　wadna　gang　to　the　infairmary　yer　ainsel'；　an'　tak'　charity。〃
  〃Would　I　no'？　I　would　go　if　I　so　much　as　cut　my　sma'　finger；　and　I　would　let　a　student　laddie　bind　it　up　for　me。〃
  〃Weel；　ye're　a　saft　ane；〃　said　Auld　Jock。
  It　was　a　terrible　word〃saft！〃　John　Traill　flushed　darkly；　and　relapsed　into　discouraged　silence。　Deep　down　in　his　heart　he　knew　that　a　regiment　of　soldiers　from　the　Castle　could　not　take　him　alive；　a　free　patient；　into　the　infirmary。
  But　what　was　one　to　do　but　〃lee；〃　right　heartily；　for　the　good　of　this　very　sick；　very　poor；　homeless　old　man　on　a　night　of　pitiless　storm？　That　he　had　〃lee'd〃　to　no　purpose　and　got　a　〃saft〃　name　for　it　was　a　blow　to　his　pride。
  Hearing　the　clatter　of　fork　and　spoon；　Bobby　trotted　from　behind　the　bar　and　saved　the　day　of　discomfiture。　Time　for　dinner；　indeed！　Up　he　came　on　his　hind　legs　and　politely　begged　his　master　for　food。　It　was　the　prettiest　thing　he　could　do；　and　the　landlord　delighted　in　him。
  〃Gie　'im　a　penny　plate　o'　the　gude　broo；〃　said　Auld　Jock；　and　he　took　the　copper　coin　from　his　pocket　to　pay　for　it。　He　forgot　his　own　meal　in　watching　the　hungry　little　creature　eat。　Warmed　and　softened　by　Mr。　Traill's　kindness；　and　by　the　heartening　food；　Auld　Jock　betrayed　a　thought　that　had　rankled　in　the　depths　of　his　mind　all　day。
  〃Bobby　isna　ma　ain　dog。〃　His　voice　was　dull　and　unhappy。
  Ah；　here　was　misery　deeper　than　any　physical　ill！　The　penny　was　his；　a　senseless　thing；　but；　poor；　old；　sick；　hameless　and　kinless；　the　little　dog　that　loved　and　followed　him　〃wasna　his　ain。〃　To　hide　the　huskiness　in　his　own　voice　Mr。　Traill　relapsed　into　broad；　burry　Scotch。
  〃Dinna　fash　yersel'；　man。　The　wee　beastie　is　maist　michty　fond　o'　ye；　an'　ilka　dog　aye　chooses　'is　ain　maister。〃
  Auld　Jock　shook　his　head　and　gave　a　brief　account　of　Bobby's　perversity。　On　the　very　next　market…day　the　little　dog　must　be　restored　to　the　tenant　of　Cauldbrae　farm　and；　if　necessary；　tied　in　the　cart。　It　was　unlikely；　young　as　he　was；　that　he　would　try　to　find　his　way　back；　all　the　way　from　near　the　top　of　the　Pentlands。　In　a　day　or　two　he　would　forget　Auld　Jock。
  〃I　canna　say　it　wullna　be　sair　partin'〃　And　then；　seeing　the　sympathy　in　the　landlord's　eye　and　fearing　a　disgraceful　breakdown；　Auld　Jock　checked　his　self　betrayal。　During　the　talk　Bobby　stood　listening。　At　the　abrupt　ending；　he　put　his　shagged　paws　up　on　Auld　Jock's　knee；　wistfully　inquiring　about　this　emotional　matter。　Then　he　dropped　soberly；　and　slunk　away　under　his　master's　chair。
  〃Ay；　he　kens　we're　talkin'　aboot　'im。〃
  〃He's　a　knowing　bit　dog。　Have　you　attended　to　his　sairous　educ