448 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AXD BOTANIST. 



converse at all, and rising up shortly afterwards and 

 moving his hands in angry deprecation, said, " I'll hae nae 

 mair o't." Mrs. Allanach, who was seated by, explained 

 to him who I was, that I had come a far way to see him, 

 and had travelled that morning through the deep drift 

 to say good-bye. But he would listen to nothing, and cried, 

 " I ken naething aboot it and dinna care ! " I remained 

 silent, till Mrs. Allanach succeeded somewhat in allaying 

 his annoyance and making him smile. He then rose, went 

 to the window, and looked out at the huge snow-wreaths 

 heaped against the panes, and at the shrouded landscape. 

 He spoke of the " sair time " it was, which would be heard 

 of for long. Deeming it wise to leave the room, to allow 

 him to rest for a time, I went to the kitchen, followed 

 shortly by his nurse, after she had settled him in his chair 

 and still further pacified his perturbed spirit. Peeny went,, 

 in a little, to attend upon him, as her presence and 

 services often succeeded when others' failed. 



Not long after I left his room, he sent word by Peeny, 

 that he was very sorry he had spoken as he had done 

 and that he hoped I would return. I did so immediately. 

 He received me with a smile and cordial shake of the hand,, 

 and said he did not know who I was at all but thought I 

 was another man altogether, one who had stolen his books. 

 We at once entered on the pleasantest relations, his old 

 brightness having returned, and we sat long together alone 

 by the fire, talking of many things, as we had done before. 

 Poor good soul, he could not make amends enough for the 

 temper he had unwittingly showed me, and his heart now 

 opened out more than it had hitherto done. Nor could 

 he refrain from frequently returning to the subject, saying : 



