Daft Gallants. 195 



nor on th?level of ocean's surface, but from higher and 

 beyond — that life is worth living, then he takes up his 

 task and goes on, saying 



" And whether crowned or crownless when I fall 



It matters not, so as God's work is done. 



I've learned to prize the quiet lightning deed — 



Not the applauding thunder at its heels 



Which men call fame.'' 



The Queen Dowager and Aggie were off to paidle in 

 the burn after luncheon, and as a fitting close they kilted 

 their petticoats and danced a highland reel on the green- 

 sward, in sight of the company, but at some distance 

 from us. They were just wee lassies again, and to be a 

 wee lassie at seventy-one is a triumph indeed ; but, as 

 the Queen Dowager says, that is nothing. She intends 

 to be as daft for many years to come, for my grand- 

 father was far older when he alarmed the auld wives of 

 the village on Halloween night, sticking his false face 

 through the windows. " Oh ! " said one, recovering 

 from her fright, " it is just that daft callant, Andrew 

 Carnegie ! " I remember one day, in Dunfermline, an 

 old man in the nineties — a picture of withered eld, a few 

 straight, glistening white hairs on each side of his head, 

 and his nose and chin threatening each other — tottered 

 across the room to where I was sitting, and laying his 

 long, skinny hand upon my head, murmured : 



" An' ye're a gran'son o' Andrew Carnegie's ! Aye, 

 maan, I've seen the day when your grandfaether an' me 



