still　and　looked　down　at　him。　She　was　not　a　beautiful　lady；　nor　very　young。　Indeed；　she　was　a　few　years　older　than　the　Queen；　and　the　Queen　was　a　widowed　grandmother。　But　she　had　a　sweet　dignity　and　warm　serenityan　unhurried　look；　as　if　she　had　all　the　time　in　the　world　for　a　wee　dog；　and　Bobby　was　an　age…whitened　muff　of　a　plaintive　terrier　that　captured　her　heart　at　once。　Very　certain　that　this　stranger　knew　and　cared　about　how　he　felt；　Bobby　turned　and　led　her　down　to　Auld　Jock's　grave。　And　when　she　was　seated　on　the　table…tomb　he　came　up　to　her　and　let　her　look　at　his　collar；　and　he　stood　under　her　caress；　although　she　spoke　to　him　in　fey　English；　calling　him　a　darling　little　dog。　Then；　entirely　contented　with　her　company；　he　lay　down；　his　eyes　fixed　upon　her　and　lolling　his　tongue。
  The　sun　was　on　the　green　and　flowery　slope　of　Greyfriars；　warming　the　weathered　tombs　and　the　rear　windows　of　the　tenements。　The　Grand　Leddy　found　a　great　deal　there　to　interest　her　beside　Bobby　and　the　robin　that　chirped　and　picked　up　crumbs　between　the　little　dog's　paws。　Presently　the　gate　was　opened　again　and'　a　housemaid　from　some　mansion　in　George　Square　came　around　the　kirk。　Trained　by　Mistress　Jeanie；　she　was　a　neat　and　pretty　and　pleasant…　mannered　housemaid；　in　a　black　gown　and　white　apron；　and　with　a　frilled　cap　on　her　crinkly；　gold…brown　hair　that　had　had　more　than　〃a　lick　or　twa　the　nicht　afore。〃
  〃It's　juist　Ailie；〃　Bobby　seemed　to　say；　as　he　stood　a　moment　with　crested　neck　and　tail。　〃Ilka　body　kens　Ailie。〃
  The　servant　lassie；　with　an　hour　out；　had　stopped　to　speak　to　Bobby。　She　had　not　meant　to　stay　long；　but　the　lady；　who　didn't　look　in　the　least　grand；　began　to　think　friendly　things　aloud。
  〃The　windows　of　the　tenements　are　very　clean。〃
  〃Ay。　The　bairnies　couldna　see　Bobby　gin　the　windows　warna　washed。〃　The　lassie　was　pulling　her　adored　little　pet's　ears；　and　Bobby　was　nuzzling　up　to　her。
  〃In　many　of　the　windows　there　is　a　box　of　flowers；　or　of　kitchen　herbs　to　make　the　broth　savory。〃
  〃It　wasna　so　i'　the　auld　days。　It　was　aye　washin's　clappin'　aboon　the　stanes。　Noo；　mony　o'　the　mithers　hang　the　claes　oot　at　nicht。　Ilka　thing　is　changed　sin'　I　was　a　wean　an'　leevin'　i'　the　auld　Guildhall；　the　bairnies　haen　Bobby　to　lo'e；　an'　no'　to　be　neglectet。〃　She　continued　the　conversation　to　include　Tammy　as　he　came　around　the　kirk　on　his　tapping　crutches。
  〃Hoo　mony　years　is　it；　Tammy；　sin'　Bobby's　been　leevin'　i'　the　auld　kirkyaird？　At　Maister　Traill's　snawy　picnic　ye　war　five　gangin'　on　sax。〃　They　exchanged　glances　in　which　lay　one　of　the　happy　memories　of　sad　childhoods。
  〃Noo　I'm　nineteen　going　on　twenty。　It's　near　fourteen　years　syne；　Ailie。〃　Nearly　all　the　burrs　had　been　pulled　from　Tammy's　tongue；　but　he　used　a　Scotch　word　now　and　then；　no'　to　shame　Ailie's　less　cultivated　speech。
  〃So　long？〃　murmured　the　Grand　Leddy。　〃Bobby　is　getting　old；　very　old　for　a　terrier。〃
  As　if　to　deny　that；　Bobby　suddenly　shot　down　the　slope　in　answer　to　a　cry　of　alarm　from　a　song　thrush。　Still　good　for　a　dash；　when　he　came　back　he　dropped　panting。　The　lady　put　her　hand　on　his　rippling　coat　and　felt　his　heart　pounding。　Then　she　looked　at　his　worn　down　teeth　and　lifted　his　veil。　Much　of　the　luster　was　gone　from　Bobby's　brown　eyes；　but　they　were　still　soft　and　deep　and　appealing。
  From　the　windows　children　looked　down　upon　the　quiet　group　and；　without　in　the　least　knowing　why　they　wanted　to　be　there；　too；　the　tenement　bairns　began　to　drop　into　the　kirkyard。　Almost　at　once　it　raineda　quick；　bright；　dashing　shower　that　sent　them　all　flying　and　laughing　up　to　the　shelter　of　the　portico　to　the　new　kirk。　Bobby　scampered　up；　too；　and　with　the　bairns　in　holiday　duddies　crowding　about　her；　and　the　wee　dog　lolling　at　her　feet；　the　Grand　Leddy　talked　fairy　stories。
  She　told　them　all　about　a　pretty　country　place　near　London。　It　was　called　Holly　Lodge　because　its　hedges　were　bright　with　green　leaves　and　red　berries；　even　in　winter。　A　lady　who　had　no　family　at　all　lived　there；　and　to　keep　her　company　she　had　all　sorts　of　pets。　Peter　and　Prince　were　the　dearest　dogs；　and　Cocky　was　a　parrot　that　could　say　the　most　amusing　things。　Sir　Garnet　was　the　llama　goat；　or　sheepshe　didn't　know　which。　There　was　a　fat　and　lazy　old　pony　that　had　long　been　pensioned　off　on　oats　and　clover；　andoh　yesthe　white　donkey　must　not　be　forgotten！
  〃O…o…o…oh！　I　didna　ken　there　wad　be　ony　white　donkeys！〃　cried　a　big…eyed　laddie。
  〃There　cannot　be　many；　and　there's　a　story　about　how　the　lady　came　to　have　this　one。　One　day；　driving　in　a　poor　street；　she　saw　a　costerthat　is　a　London　peddlerbeating　his　tired　donkey　that　refused　to　pull　the　load。　The　lady　got　out　of　her　carriage；　fed　the　animal　some　carrots　from　the　cart；　talked　kindly　to　him　right　into　his　big；　surprised　ear；　and　stroked　his　nose。　Presently　the　poor　beast　felt　better　and　started　off　cheerfully　with　the　heavy　cart。　When　many　costers　learned　that　it　was　not　only　wicked　but　foolish　to　abuse　their　patient　animals；　they　hunted　for　a　white　donkey　to　give　the　lady。　They　put　a　collar　of　flowers　about　his　neck；　and　brought　him　up　on　a　platform　before　a　crowd　of　people。　Everybody　laughed；　for　he　was　a　clumsy　and　comical　beast　to　be　decorated　with　roses　and　daisies。　But　the　lady　is　proud　of　him；　and　now　that　pampered　donkey　has　nothing　to　do　but　pull　her　Bath　chair　about；　when　she　is　at　Holly　Lodge；　and　kick　up　his　heels　on　a　clover　pasture。〃
  〃Are　ye　kennin'　anither　tale；　Leddy？〃
  〃Oh；　a　number　of　them。　Prince；　the　fox　terrier；　was　ill　once；　and　the　doctor　who　came　to　see　him　said　his　mistress　gave　him　too　much　to　eat。　That　was　very　probable；　because　that　lady　likes　to　see　children　and　animals　have　too　much　to　eat。　There　are　dozens　and　dozens　of　poor　children　that　the　lady　knows　and　loves。　Once　they　lived　in　a　very　dark　and　dirty　and　crowded　tenement；　quite　as　bad　as　some　that　were　torn　down　in　the　Cowgate　and　the　Grassmarket。〃
  〃It　mak's　ye　fecht　ane　anither；〃　said　one　laddie；　soberly。　〃Gin　they　had　a　sonsie　doggie　like　Bobby　to　lo'e；　an'　an　auld　kirkyaird　wi'　posies　an'　birdies　to　leuk　into；　they　wadna　fecht　sae　muckle。〃
  〃I'm　very　sure　of　that。　Well；　the　lady　built　a　new　tenement　with　plenty　of　room　and　light　and　air；　and　a　market　so　they　can　get　better　food　more　cheaply；　and　a　large　church；　that　is　also　a　kind　of　school　where　big　and　little　people　can　learn　many　things。　She　gives　the　children　of　the　neighborhood　a　Christmas　dinner　and　a　gay　tree；　and　she　strips　the　hedges　of　Holly　Lodge　for　them；　and　then　she　takes　Peter　and　Prince；and　Cocky　the　parrot；　to　help　along　　the　fun；　and　she　tells　her　newest　stories。　Next　Christmas　she　means　to　tell　the　story　of　Greyfriars　Bobby；　and　how　all　his　little　Scotch　friends　are　better…behaving　and　cleaner　and　happier　because　they　have　that　wee　dog　to　love。〃
  〃Ilka　body　lo'es　Bobby。　He　wasna　ever　mistreatet　or　neglectet；〃　said　Ailie；　thoughtfully。
  〃Ohmydear！；　That's　the　very　best　part　of　the　story！〃　The　Grand　Leddy　had　a　shining　look。
  The　rain　had　ceased　and　the　sun　come　out；　and　the　children　began　to　be　called　away。　There　was　quite　a　little　ceremony　of　lingering　leave…taking　with　the　lady　and　with　Bobby；　and　while　this　was　going　on　Ailie　had　a　〃sairious〃　confidence　　for　her　old　playfellow。
  〃Tammy；　as　the　leddy　says；　Bobby's　gettin'　auld。　I　ken　whaur's　a　snawy　hawthorn　aboon　the　burn　in　Swanston　Dell。　The　throstles　nest　there；　an'　the　blackbirds　whustle　bonny。　It　isna　so　far　but　the　bairnies　could　march　oot　wi'　posies。〃　She　turned　to　the　lady；　who　had　overheard　her。　〃We　gied　a　promise　to　the　Laird　Provost　to　gie　Bobby　a　grand　funeral。　Ye　ken　he　wullna　be　permittet　to　be　buried　i'　the　kirkyaird。〃
  〃Will　he　not？　I　had　not　thought　of　that。〃　Her　tone　was　at　once　hushed　and　startled。
  Then　she　was　down　in　the　grass；　brooding　over　the　little　dog；　and　Bobby　had　the　pathetic　look　of　trying　to　understand　what　this　emotional　talk；　that　seemed　to　concern　himself；　was　about。　Tammy　and　Ailie　were　down；　too。
  〃Are　ye　thinkin'　Bobby　wall　be　kennin'　the　deeference？〃　Ailie's　bluebell　eyes　were　wide　at　the　thought　of　pain　for　this　little　pet。
  〃I　do　not　know；　my　dear。　But　there　cannot　well　be　more　love　in　this　world　than　there　is　room　for　in　God's　heaven。〃
  She　was　silent　all　the　way　to　the　gate；　some　thought　in　her　mind　already　working　toward　a　gracious　deed。　At　the　last　she　said：　〃The　little　dog　is　fond　of　you　both。　Be　with　him　all　you　can；　for　I　think　his　beautiful　life　is　near　its　end。〃　After　a　pause；　during　which　her　face　was　lighted　by　a　smile；　as　if　from　a　lovely　thought　within；　she　added：　〃Don't　let　Bobby　die　before　my　return　from　London。〃
  In　a　week　she　was　back；　and　in　the　meantime　letters　and　telegrams　had　been　flying；　and　many　wheels　set　in　motion　in　wee　Bobby's　affairs。　When　she　returned　to　the　churchyard；　very　early　one　morning；　no　less　a　person　than　the　Lord　Provost　himself　was　with　her。　Five　years　had　passed；　but　Mr。no；　Sir　WilliamChambers；　Laird　of　Glenormiston；　for　he　had　been　knighted　by　the　Queen；　was　still　Lord　Provost　of　Edinburgh。
  Almost　immediately　Mr。　Traill　appeared；　by　appointment；　and　was　made　all　but　speechless　for　once　in　his　loquacious　life　by　the　honor　of　being　asked　to　tell　Bobby's　story　to　the　Baroness　Burdett…Coutts。　But　not　even