'Some o' her. But she's earnin' guid money at the ----'
'I dinna suppose she wud ha'e treated ye excep' she had mair money
nor brains.'
'She wud pairt wi' her last farden for ma sake!'
'Ach, awa' an' eat grass! It's weel seen that men are scarce the
noo.'
'Mind wha ye're insultin'!'
'I'm gaun up to the billet.' Macgregor said, shortly, and walked
off.
Presently, Willie, a new idea in his busy brain, overtook him.
'Macgreegor, if ye len' me thruppence the noo, I'll ca' it a
bargain aboot the twa bob.'
He got the pennies then, and on the following day a florin, upon
which he took a solemn oath. But as he fingered the silver later
he smiled secretly and almost serenely. If the fat girl had stood
him a substantial meal, cigarettes and a picture entertainment for
nothing, what might not he expect as a return for the squandering
of two shillings?
As for Macgregor, his motives were probably not unmixed: the
pleasure which he foresaw for the poor, fat girl was contingent on
the agony of Willie while spending good money on a person other
than himself.
However, Willie was not long in securing a late pass, and went upon
his jaunt in an apparently chastened state of mind, though in the
best possible humour.
He returned in the worst possible.
'Twa bob clean wasted,' he grunted, squatting down by Macgregor's
bed. 'I wish to ---- I had flung it in the Clyde when we was
crossin' the brig.'
'What gaed wrang?' inquired Macgregor, rubbing his eyes.
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