A Winters Tale 231 



taste of his fine old brandy brandy kept for the ex- 

 clusive use of the fox-hunting squires who would 

 sometimes lunch at the Red Lion when their meet was 

 in the neighbourhood he sallied forth for his usual 

 Sunday afternoon walk, pipe in mouth and Jack and 

 Meg at his heels. 



' If you want a bit sport,' said Kitty to him, aside, 

 as he was going out, ' take a turn in the forty-acre 

 about dusk.' He had no chance of asking her mean- 

 ing, for there were others about, but he said to 

 himself, ' Ah, she's a sharp one, is Kit. That means 

 another good dinner or I'm cheated/ and went his 

 way. 



No sooner was he gone than a tremendous bustle 

 began in the public-house, although it was shut on 

 Sundays. Aleck did not know what to take and what 

 to leave. 



' It's four weary miles we have to walk into Scot- 

 land,' said Kitty, ' so the less we have to carry the 

 better, Aleck that box '11 be a weight to take in itself, 

 lad.' 



' We'll have plenty of time, though. Bet can say 

 we've gone for a walk, and he'll be as pleased as Punch. 

 Have you opened the chest ? ' 



' Yes,' said Kitty, ' it's all right. The only pity is 

 I could not open the little box, and you'll have to take 

 it with us.' 



Darkness was just falling when the two fugitives 

 emerged from the Red Lion. The peaceful villagers 



