The Laird's Way of thinking. 63 



clean and supper the horses, and the girls to supper 

 and milk the cows. The rest of the time they could 

 knit, or mend their stockings, or do anything else for 

 themselves. Of this privilege the laird personally 

 did not approve, but as he was seldom or never in the 

 kitchen after nightfall, the servants' doings at night 

 were never interfered with. At this time David's 

 active mind was much in earnest about learning 

 arithmetic. It so happened that a gentleman from 

 Glasgow, who was paying his addresses to Miss 

 McAsland, came to the farm to see her every other 

 Saturday, and stayed over till Monday. As Miss 

 McAsland was often in the kitchen superintending, 

 the gentleman was also a good deal there on his 

 Saturday nights. He was a great help to David with 

 his sums. Every time he came the learner was always 

 ready for more help, and the gentleman was always 

 ready to give it. He promised to bring David some 

 books that would help him ; but, as he happened to 

 tell the laird of his intention, he was strictly forbidden 

 to carry it out, on the ground that it would turn the 

 lad's head from his work. The laird was, as young 

 Robertson thought, very peculiar in some things. 

 His men might do anything, however trifling, in their 

 own odd time or out of it, if it was for him, but 

 nothing essentially serviceable to themselves could 

 be allowed. His creed was that no man could justly 

 serve two masters ; and no doubt, under such a phrase, 

 forgetful of its true import, he concealed from his 

 conscience the narrow selfishness of his own conduct. 

 There was a fair held in East Kilbride once a year. 

 It was called Sheep Friday, being the remains of an 



