Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/37

 Less out of natural curiosity, which however was very great, than a desire to show all whom it might concern that he was again his own man, Dugald Maclean laid his hand on the lid of the basket.

"What hae ye gotten, Joe? Rabbuts?"

"If you must know, it's a young spannil." The answer came with rather truculent hesitation.

"A young spannil, eh? I'm thinkin' I'll hae a look."

"Be off about your duty, my lad." Joe began to look threatening.

"Juist a speir."

"'Op it, I tell you."

But in open defiance, Dugald Maclean had already begun to untie the string which held the lid of the basket in place. The majestic Kelly rose from his tea. Without further words he seized the young man firmly from behind by the collar of his coat. And then he hustled him as far as the door in a very efficient professional manner, straight into the arms of Eliza, who at that moment was in the act of entering it.

V

At the open door there was a brief scurry of laughter and protest which ended in a riot of confusion. And then happened an odd thing. But of the three persons struggling upon the threshold of Number Five only one was aware of it, and he had the wit to raise a great voice to its highest pitch in order to conceal a fact so remarkable.

"For heaven's sake hold your noise, Joe, else you'll frighten the neighbors," said Eliza, getting in it at last