HOUSEKEEPING. 89 



Scattered promiscuously among glowing peats were 

 various saucepans, and on one side of the hearth stood 

 the oven. It was a round flat-bottomed pot raised on 

 feet, so that a quantity of fire could be stowed under- 

 neath it. The lid was also flat, and was covered with 

 glowing peats. On the hearthstone a quantity of clear 

 peat cinders was spread in a red-hot mass, over which 

 was laid a gridiron of ponderous manufacture. In 

 shape and size it rather resembled a harrow. 



In Wildie's very juvenile days she had been guilty 

 of roasting more than one of Tribby's dolls on " The 

 Iron." She had heard and appreciated the story of 

 St. Lawrence, and believed in martyrology — being 

 young and ignorant. A recollection of those innocent, 

 ill-fated dolls flashed across her mind as she stood 

 beside Glawthin's chair, watching that kitchen autocrat 

 as she deftly turned the briinies (small cakes) about in 

 her hands. Glawthin held the scoll of meal in her 

 lap, and her eyes and tongue and hands seemed every- 

 where. Smoke was detected proceeding from the oven, 

 and in a moment Glawthin applied the tongs to its 

 lid, and, having removed it, peered anxiously into the 

 oven, while her fingers moved tenderly among the 

 snowy rolls, like a hen turning its eggs. 



Then she would give the porridge a vigorous stir. 

 Then she would turn the briinies on the iron, and all 

 the time her tongue was going somewhat in this 

 fashion : 



" Nanny, lass, du micht lay a pate or twa upa da 

 fire." 



