ll not be in this wee Highlander's day nor； I fear； in mine。〃 About the speech of this Peebles man； who had risen from poverty to distinction； learning； wealth； and many varieties of usefulness； there was still an engaging burr。 And his manner was so simple that he put the humblest at his ease。
There had been no formality about the meeting at all。 Glenormiston was standing in a rear doorway of the cathedral near the Regent's Tomb； looking out into the sunny square of Parliament Close； when Mr。 Traill and Bobby appeared。 Near seventy； at that time； a backward sweep of white hair and a downward flow of square…cut； white beard framed a boldly featured face and left a generous mouth uncovered。
〃Gude morning； Mr。 Traill。 So that is the famous dog that has stood sentinel for more than eight years。 He should be tak'n up to the Castle and shown to young soldiers who grumble at twenty…four hours' guard duty。 How do you do； sir！〃 The great man； whom the Queen knighted later； and whom the University he was too poor to attend as a lad honored with a degree； stooped from the Regent's Tomb and shook Bobby's lifted paw with grave courtesy。 Then； leaving the little dog to entertain himself； he turned easily to his own most absorbing interest of the moment。
〃Do you happen to care for Edinburgh antiquities； Mr。 Traill？ Reformation piety made sad havoc of art everywhere。 Man； come here！〃
Down into the lime dust the Lord Provost and the landlord went； in their good black clothes； for a glimpse of a bit of sculpturing on a tomb that had been walled in to make a passage。 A loose brick removed； behind and above it； the sun flashed through fragments of emerald and ruby glass of a saint's robe； in a bricked up window。 Such buried and forgotten treasure； Glenormiston explained； filled the entire south transept。 In the High Kirk； that then filled the eastern end of the cathedral； they went up a cheap wooden stairway； to the pew…filled gallery that was built into the old choir； and sat down。 Mr。 Traill's eyes sparkled。 Glenormiston was a man after his own heart； and they were getting along famously； but； oh！ it began to seem more and more unlikely that a Lord Provost； who was concerned about such braw things as the restoration of the old cathedral and letting the sun into the ancient tenements； should be much interested in a small； masterless dog。
〃Man； auld John Knox will turn over in his bit grave in Parliament Close if you put a 'kist o' whustles' in St。 Giles。〃 Mr。 Traill laughed。
〃I admit I might have stopped short of the organ but for the courageous example of Doctor Lee in Greyfriars。 It was from him that I had a quite extravagant account of this wee； leal Highlander a few years ago。 I have aye meant to go to see him； but I'm a busy man and the matter passed out of mind。 Mr。 Traill； I'm your sadly needed witness： I heard you from the doorway of the court…room； and I sent up a note confirming your story and asking； as a courtesy； that the case be turned over to me for some exceptional disposal。 Would you mind telling another man the tale that so moved Doctor Lee？ I've aye had a fondness for the human document。〃
So there； above the pulpit of the High Kirk of St。 Giles； the tale was told again； so strangely did this little dog's life come to be linked with the highest and lowest； the proudest and humblest in the Scottish capital。 Now； at mention of Auld Jock； Bobby put his shagged paws up inquiringly on the edge of the pew； so that Mr。 Traill lifted him。 He lay down flat between the two men； with his nose on his paws； and his little tousled head under the Lord Provost's hand。
Auld Jock lived again in that recital。 Glenormiston； coming from the country of the Ettrick shepherd； knew such lonely figures； and the pathos of old age and waning powers that drove them in to the poor quarters of towns。 There was pictured the stormy night and the simple old man who sought food and shelter； with the devoted little dog that 〃wasna 'is ain。〃 Sick unto death he was； and full of ignorant prejudices and fears that needed wise handling。 And there was the well…meaning landlord's blunder； humbly confessed； and the obscure and tragic result of it； in a foul and swarming rookery 〃juist aff the Coogate。〃
〃Man； it was Bobby that told me of his master's condition。 He begged me to help Auld Jock； and what did I do but let my fule tongue wag about doctors。 I nae more than turned my back than the auld body was awa' to his meeserable death。 It has aye eased my conscience a bit to feed the dog。〃
〃That's not the only reason why you have fed him。〃 There was a twinkle in the Lord Provost's eye； and Mr。 Traill blushed。
〃Weel； I'll admit to you that I'm fair fulish about Bobby。 Man； I've courted that sma' terrier for eight and a half years。 He's as polite and friendly as the deil； but he'll have naething to do with me or with onybody。 I wonder the intelligent bit doesn't bite me for the ill turn I did his master。〃
Then there was the story of Bobby's devotion to Auld Jock's memory to be toldthe days when he faced starvation rather than desert that grave； the days when he lay cramped under the fallen table…tomb； and his repeated； dramatic escapes from the Pentland farm。 His never broken silence in the kirkyard was only to be explained by the unforgotten orders of his dead master。 His intelligent effort to make himself useful to the caretaker had won indulgence。 His ready obedience； good temper； high spirits and friendliness had made him the special pet of the tenement children and the Heriot laddies。 At the very last Mr。 Traill repeated the talk he had had with the non…commissioned officer from the Castle； and confessed his own fear of some forlorn end for Bobby。 It was true he was nobody's dog； and he was fascinated by soldiers and military music； and so； perhaps
〃I'll no' be reconciled to partingEh； man； that's what Auld Jock himsel' said when he was telling me that the bit dog must be returned to the sheep…farm： 'It wull be sair partin'。'〃 Tears stood in the unashamed landlord's eyes。
Glenormiston was pulling Bobby's silkily fringed ears thoughtfully。 Through all this talk about his dead master the little dog had not stirred。 For the second time that day Bobby's veil was pushed back； first by the most unfortunate laddie in the decaying tenements about Greyfriars； and now by the Lord Provost of the ancient royal burgh and capital of Scotland。 And both made the same discovery。 Deep…brown pools of love； young Bobby's eyes had dwelt upon Auld Jock。 Pools of sad memories they were now； looking out wistfully and patiently upon a masterless world。
〃Are you thinking he would be reconciled to be anywhere away from that grave？ Look； man！〃
〃Lord forgive me！ I aye thought the wee doggie happy enough。〃
After a moment the two men went down the gallery stairs in silence。 Bobby dropped from the bench and fell into a subdued trot at their heels。 As they left the cathedral by the door that led into High Street Glenormiston remarked； with a mysterious smile：
〃I'm thinking Edinburgh can do better by wee Bobby than to banish him to the Castle。 But wait a bit； man。 A kirk is not the place for settling a small dog's affairs。〃
The Lord Provost led the way westward along the cathedral's front。 On High Street； St。 Giles had three doorways。 The middle door then gave admittance to the police office； the western opened into the Little Kirk； popularly known as Haddo's Hole。 It was into this bare； whitewashed chapel that Glenormiston turned to get some restoration drawings he had left on the pulpit。 He was explaining them to Mr。 Traill when he was interrupted by a murmur and a shuffle； as of many voices and feet； and an odd tap…tap…tapping in the vestibule。
Of all the doorways on the north and south fronts of St。 Giles the one to the Little Kirk was nearest the end of George IV Bridge。 Confused by the vast size and imposing architecture of the old cathedral； these slum children； in search of the police office； went no farther； but ventured timidly into the open vestibule of Haddo's Hole。 Any doubts they might have had about this being the right place were soon dispelled。 Bobby heard them and darted out to investigate。 And suddenly they were all inside； overwrought Ailie on the floor； clasping the little dog and crying hysterically。
〃Bobby's no' deid！ Bobby's no' deid！ Oh； Maister Traill； ye wullna hae to gie 'im up to the police！ Tammy's got the seven shullin's in 'is bonnet！〃
And there was small Tammy； crutches dropped and pouring that offering of love and mercy out at the foot of an altar in old St。 Giles。 Such an astonishing pile of copper coins it was； that it looked to the landlord like the loot of some shopkeeper's change drawer。
〃Eh； puir laddie； whaur did ye get it a' noo？〃 he asked； gravely。
Tammy was very self…possessed and proud。 〃The bairnies aroond the kirkyaird gie'd it to pay the police no' to mak' Bobby be deid。〃
Mr。 Traill flashed a glance at Glenormiston。 It was a look at once of triumph and of humility over the Herculean deed of these disinherited children。 But the Lord Provost was gazing at that crowd of pale bairns； products of the Old Town's ancient slums； and feeling； in his own person； the civic shame of it。 And he was thinkin