I 



40 EDWARD'S RETURN HOME. CHAP, n 



" neibour," who had been kept up all night by the 

 troubles of the Edward family, took him by the collar, 

 and said, "Eh, laddie, ye hae gien yer folk a sair 

 nicht o't ! But bide a wee, I'll gang in wi' ye !" As 

 she entered the door, she exclaimed, " Here he's again, 

 Maggie, a' safe ! " " Oh, ye vagaboon," said the 

 mother, " where hae ye been a' nicht ? Yer faither'a 

 oot seekin' ye. I wonder how I can keep my hands 

 aff ye." " No, no, Maggie," said Mrs. Kelman, " ye 

 winna do that. But I'll tell ye what ye'll do. Gie 

 him some meat, and let him get to his bed as fast as 

 he can." "His bed?" said his mother, "he shanna 

 bed here till his faither comes in." " Just gie him 

 something, Maggie, and get him oot o' the road." 

 After some parleying, Tom got something to eat, and 

 was in bed, with the blankets over him, before his 

 father returned. 



" Weel, John," said Mrs. Kelman, " ye hinna gotten 

 him ? " " No." " Ye hinna gaun to the right place !" 

 " The right place ! " said John, " who on earth could 

 tell the right place for such a wandering Jew as he 

 is?" "Weel, I've got him." "Where?" "At the 

 head o' the stair ! " " And where is he now ? " " Where 

 he should be." "That's in Bridewell!" "No, no, 

 John, dinna say that." "Where, then?" "In his 

 bed." " What ! here ? And before I have paid him 

 for his night's work ? " " Now, John, just sit doun 

 and hae a cup o' tea wi' Maggie and me before you 

 go to your wark ; and if ye hae onything to say to the 



