88 MARRIES A HUNTLY LASS. CHAP. vi. 



up the men's legs. Some of the workmen did not 

 care, but one of them was almost thrown into con- 

 vulsions when he knew that a "worm was out." The 

 other men played tricks upon him. When any of 

 them wanted a scene, they merely said, "Geordie, 

 there's a lad oot!" Then Geordie would jump to 

 his feet, and would not sit down again until he was 

 assured that all the worms were fast in their boxes. 



Edward was forced to keep his caterpillars in the 

 workshop, as the landlady with whom he lodged 

 would not allow any of his "vermin," as she called 

 them, to enter her house. He had one day taken 

 in about a dozen caterpillars of the Puss Moth, and 

 asked her for a box to hold them in. The landlady 

 told him at once to get out of the house with his 

 "beasts." She never could understand her lodger. 

 She could not fathom " fat kin' o' a chiel he was. 

 A'body tried to keep awa frae vermin but himsel' ! " 



The idea again recurred to Edward of saving 

 money enough to enable him to emigrate to the 

 United States. But this was prevented by his falling 

 in love ! Man proposes : God disposes. He met 

 with a Huntly lass at the farm of Boyndie. He 

 liked her, loved her, courted her, married her, and 

 brought her home to the house which he had provided 

 for her in Banff. 



Edward was only twenty-three years old when he 

 brought his wife home. Many may think that he 

 was very imprudent in marrying so early. But he 



