kest　floor　of　all；　used　the　kirkyard　for　a　study；　by　special　indulgence　of　the　caretaker；　whenever　the　weather　permitted。
  From　a　window　he　dropped　his　books　and　his　crutches　over　the　wall。　Then；　by　clasping　his　arms　around　a　broken　shaft　that　blocked　the　casement；　he　swung　himself　out；　and　scrambled　down　into　an　enclosed　vault　yard。　There　he　kept　hidden　Mistress　Jeanie's　milking　stool　for　a　seat；　and　a　table…tomb　served　as　well；　for　the　laddie　to　do　his　sums　upon；　as　it　had　for　the　tearful　signing　of　the　Covenant　more　than　two　hundred　years　before。　Bobby；　as　host；　greeted　Tammy　with　cordial　friskings　and　waggings；　saw　him　settled　to　his　tasks；　and　then　went　briskly　about　his　own　interrupted　business　of　searching　out　marauders。　Many　a　spring　dawn　the　quiet　little　boy　and　the　swift　and　silent　little　dog　had　the　shadowy　garden　all　to　themselves；　and　it　was　for　them　the　song…thrushes　and　skylarks　gave　their　choicest　concerts。
  On　that　mid…April　morning；　when　the　rising　sun　gilded　the　Castle　turrets　and　flashed　back　from　the　many　beautiful　windows　of　Heriot's　Hospital；　Tammy　bundled　his　books　under　the　table…tomb　of　Mistress　Jean　Grant；　went　over　to　the　rear　of　the　Guildhall　at　the　top　of　the　Row；　and　threw　a　handful　of　gravel　up　to　Ailie's　window。　Because　of　a　grandmither　　Ailie；　too；　dwelt　on　a　low　level。　Her　eager　little　face；　lighted　by　sleep…dazzled　blue　eyes；　popped　out　with　the　surprising　suddenness　of　the　manikins　in　a　Punch…and…Judy　show。
  〃In　juist　ane　meenit；　Tammy；〃　she　whispered；　〃no'　to　wauken　the　grandmither。〃　It　was　in　so　very　short　a　minute　that　the　lassie　climbed　out　onto　the　classic　pediment　of　a　tomb　and　dropped　into　the　kirkyard　that　her　toilet　was　uncompleted。　Tammy　buttoned　her　washed…out　cotton　gown　at　the　back；　and　she　sat　on　a　slab　to　lace　her　shoes。　If　the　fun　of　giving　Bobby　his　bath　was　to　be　enjoyed　to　the　full　there　must　be　no　unnecessary　delay。　This　consideration　led　Tammy　to　observe：
  〃Ye're　no'　needin'　to　comb　yer　hair；　Ailie。　It　leuks　bonny　eneugh。〃
  In　truth；　Ailie　was　one　of　those　fortunate　lassies　whose　crinkly；　gold…brown　mop　really　looked　best　when　in　some　disorder；　and　of　that　advantage　the　little　maid　was　well　aware。
  〃I　ken　a'　that；　Tammy。　I　aye　gie　it　a　lick　or　twa　wi'　a　comb　the　nicht　afore。　Ca'　the　wee　doggie。〃
  Bobby　fully　understood　that　he　was　wanted　for　some　serious　purpose；　but　it　was　a　fresh　morning　of　dew　and　he；　apparently；　was　in　the　highest　of　spirits。　So　he　gave　Ailie　a　chase　over　the　sparkling　grass　and　under　the　showery　shrubbery。　When　he　dropped　at　last　on　Auld　Jock's　grave　Tammy　captured　him。　The　little　dog　could　always　be　caught　there；　in　a　caressable　state　of　exhaustion　or　meditation；　for；　sooner　or　later；　he　returned　to　the　spot　from　every　bit　of　work　or　play。　No　one　would　have　known　it　for　a　place　of　burial　at　all。　Mr。　Brown　knew　it　only　by　the　rose　bush　at　its　head　and　by　Bobby's　haunting　it；　for　the　mound　had　sunk　to　the　general　level　of　the　terrace　on　which　it　lay；　and　spreading　crocuses　poked　their　purple　and　gold　noses　through　the　crisp　spring　turf。　But　for　the　wee；　guardian　dog　the　man　who　lay　beneath　had　long　lost　what　little　identity　he　had　ever　possessed。
  Now；　as　the　three　lay　there；　the　lassie　as　flushed　and　damp　as　some　water…nymph；　Bobby　panting　and　submitting　to　a　petting；　Tammy　took　the　little　dog's　muzzle　between　his　thin　hands；　parted　the　veil；　and　looked　into　the　soft　brown　eyes。
  〃Leak；　Ailie；　Bobby's　wantin'　somethin'；　an'　is　juist　haudin'　'imsel'。〃
  It　was　true。　For　all　his　gaiety　in　play　and　his　energy　at　work　Bobby's　eyes　had　ever　a　patient；　wistful　look；　not　unlike　the　crippled　laddie's。　Ah；　who　can　say　that　it　did　not　require　as　much　courage　and　gallant　bravado　on　the　part　of　that　small；　bereft　creature　to　enable　him　to　live　at　all；　as　it　did　for　Tammy　to　face　his　handicapped　life　and　〃no'　to　remember　'is　bad　legs〃？
  In　the　bath　on　the　rear　steps　of　the　lodge　Bobby　swam　and　splashed；　and　scattered　foam　with　his　excited　tail。　He　would　not　stand　still　to　be　groomed；　but　wriggled　and　twisted　and　leaped　upon　the　children；　putting　his　shaggy　wet　paws　roguishly　in　their　faces。　But　he　stood　there　at　last；　after　the　jolliest　romp；　in　which　the　old　kirkyard　rang　with　laughter；　and　oh！　so　bonny；　in　his　rippling　coat　of　dark　silver。　No　sooner　was　he　released　than　he　dashed　around　the　kirk　and　back　again；　bringing　his　latest　bone　in　his　mouth。　To　his　scratching　on　the　stone　sill；　for　he　had　been　taught　not　to　scratch　on　the　panel；　the　door　was　opened　by　snod　and　smiling　Mistress　Jeanie；　who　invited　these　slum　bairns　into　such　a　cozy；　spotless　kitchen　as　was　not　possible　in　the　tenements。　Mr。　Brown　sat　by　the　hearth；　bundled　in　blue　and　white　blankets　of　wonderfully　blocked　country　weaving。　Bobby　put　his　fore　paws　on　the　caretaker's　chair　and　laid　his　precious　bone　in　the　man's　lap。
  〃Eh；　ye　takin'　bit　rascal；　loup！〃　Bobby　jumped　to　the　patted　knee；　turned　around　and　around　on　the　soft　bed　that　invited　him；　licked　the　beaming　old　face　to　show　his　sympathy　and　friendliness；　and　jumped　down　again。　Mr。　Brown　sighed　because　Bobby　steadily　but　amiably　refused　to　be　anybody's　lap…dog。　The　caretaker　turned　to　the　admiring　children。
  〃Ilka　morn　he　fetches　'is　bit　bane　up；　thinkin'　it　a　braw　giftie　for　an　ill　man。　An'　syne　he　veesits　me　twa　times　i'　the　day；　juist　bidin'　a　wee　on　the　hearthstane；　lollin'　'is　tongue　an'　waggin'　'is　tail；　cheerfu'…like。　Bobby　has　mair　gude　sense　in　'is　heid　than　mony　a　man　wha　comes　ben　the　hoose；　wi'　a　lang　face；　to　let　me　ken　I'm　gangin'　to　dee。　Gin　I　keep　snug　an'　canny　it　wullna　gang　to　the　heart。　Jeanie；　woman；　fetch　ma　fife；　wull　ye？〃
  Then　there　were　strange　doings　in　the　kirkyard　lodge。　James　Brown　〃wasna　gangin'　to　dee〃　before　his　time　came；　at　any　rate。　In　his　youth；　as　under…gardener　on　a　Highland　estate；　he　had　learned　to　play　the　piccolo　flute；　and　lately　he　had　revived　the　pastoral　art　of　piping　just　because　it　went　so　well　with　Bobby's　delighted　legs。　To　the　sonsie　air　of　〃Bonnie　Dundee〃　Bobby　hopped　and　stepped　and　louped；　and　he　turned　about　on　his　hind　feet；　his　shagged　fore　paws　drooped　on　his　breast　as　daintily　as　the　hands　in　the　portraits　of　early　Victorian　ladies。　The　fire　burned　cheerily　in　the　polished　grate；　and　winked　on　every　shining　thing　in　the　room；　primroses　bloomed　in　the　diamond…paned　casement；　the　skylark　fluttered　up　and　sang　in　its　cage；　the　fife　whistled　as　gaily　as　a　blackbird；　and　the　little　dog　danced　with　a　comic　clumsiness　that　made　them　all　double　up　with　laughter。　The　place　was　so　full　of　brightness；　and　of　kind　and　merry　hearts；　that　there　was　room　for　nothing　else。　Not　one　of　them　dreamed　that　the　shadow　of　the　law　was　even　then　over　this　useful　and　lovable　little　dog's　head。
  A　glance　at　the　wag…at…the…wa'　clock　reminded　Ailie　that　Mr。　Traill　might　be　waiting　for　Bobby。
  Curious　about　the　mystery；　the　children　took　the　little　dog　down　to　the　gate；　happily。　They　were　sobered；　however；　when　Mr。　Traill　appeared；　looking　very　grand　in　his　Sabbath　clothes。　He　inspected　Bobby　all　over　with　anxious　scrutiny；　and　gave　each　of　the　bairns　a　threepenny…bit；　but　he　had　no　blithe　greeting　for　them。　Much　preoccupied；　he　went　off　at　once；　with　the　animated　little　muff　of　a　dog　at　his　heels。　In　truth；　Mr。　Traill　was　thinking　about　how　he　might　best　plead　Bobby's　cause　with　the　Lord　Provost。　The　note　that　was　handed　him；　on　leaving　the　Burgh　court　the　day　before；　had　read：
  〃Meet　me　at　the　Regent's　Tomb　in　St。　Giles　at　eight　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and　bring　the　wee　Highlander　with　you。　Glenormiston。〃
  On　the　first　reading　the　landlord's　spirits　had　risen；　out　of　all　proportion　to　the　cause；　owing　to　his　previous　depression。　But；　after　all；　the　appointment　had　no　official　character；　since　the　Regent's　Tomb　in　St。　Giles　had　long　been　a　sort　of　town　pump　for　the　retailing　of　gossip　and　for　the　transaction　of　trifling　affairs　of　all　sorts。　The　fate　of　this　little　dog　was　a　small　matter；　indeed；　and　so　it　might　be　thought　fitting；　by　the　powers　that　be；　that　it　should　be　decided　at　the　Regent's　Tomb　rather　than　in　the　Burgh　court。
  To　the　children；　who　watched　from　the　kirkyard　gate　until　Mr。　Traill　and　Bobby　were　hidden　by　the　buildings　on　the　bridge；　it　was　no'　canny。　The　busy　landlord　lived　mostly　in　shirt…sleeves　and　big　white　apron；　ready　to　lend　a　hand　in　the　rush　hours；　and　he　never　was　known　to　put　on　his　black　coat　and　tall　hat　on　a　week…day；　except　to　attend　a　funeral。　However；　there　was　the　day's　work　to　be　done。　Tammy　had　a　lesson　still　to　get；　and　returned　to　the　kirkyard；　and　Ailie　ran　up　to　the　dining…rooms。　On　the　step　she　collided　with　a　red　headed；　freckle…faced　young　man　who　asked　for　Mr。　Traill。
  〃He　isna　here。〃　The　shy　lassie　was　made　almost　speechless　by　recognizing；　in　this　neat；　well…spoken　clerk；　an　old　Heriot　boy；　once　as　poor　as　herself。
  〃Do　you　wark　for　him；　lassie？　Weel；　do　you　know　how　he　cam'　out　in　the　Burgh　court　about　the　bit　dog？〃
  There　was　only　one　〃bit　dog〃　in　the　world　to　Ailie。　Wild　eyed　with　alarm　at　mention　of　the　Burgh　court；　in　connection　with　that　beloved　little　pet；　she　stammered：　〃It'sit'sno'　a　coort　he　gaed　to。　Maister　Traill's　tak'n　Bobby　awa'　to　a　braw　kirk。〃
  Sandy　nodded　his　head。　〃Ay；　that　would　be　the　police　office　in