Macgregor rubbed his eyes and read: 

  MRS. ROBERT PURDIE.
  13, King’s Mansions, W 3rd Wednesday.

‘Oh, criffens!’ he groaned.  ‘Ma aunt!’ And proceeded with more haste than alacrity to tidy himself, while wondering what on earth she had come for.

Willie, scenting profit in a rich relation, though not his own, proffered his company, which was rather curtly refused.  Nevertheless, he followed his friend.

Macgregor joined his aunt in the blazing sunshine.  Her greeting was kindly if patronizing.

‘Sorry to keep ye waitin’, Aunt Purdie,’ he said respectfully.  ’If I had kent ye was comin’——­’

’I understood a good soldier was always prepared for any emergency——­’

‘Excep’ when he’s aff duty, mistress.’  This from Willie, who had taken up his position a little way behind Macgregor, an ingratiating grin on his countenance.

Aunt Purdie drew up her tall, gaunt, richly-clad figure and examined Private Thomson through eye-glasses on a long tortoise-shell handle.

‘Macgregor, who is this gentleman?’

‘It’s jist Wullie Thomson,’ said Macgregor, annoyed but reluctant to hurt his friend’s feelings.  ‘D’ye no mind him?’

’I have a very exclusive memory for faces. . .  Dear me, he is going away!’

It was so.  Either the glasses, or being called a gentleman, or both, had been too much even for Willie.

‘Is the colonel in the vicinity?’ Aunt Purdie demanded, recalling Macgregor’s wondering gaze from the retreating figure.

‘I couldna say.  He’s liker to be in a cauld bath.’

‘You have, of course, informed him who your uncle is?’

‘Me an’ the colonel ha’ena done much hob-nobbin’ as yet,’ Macgregor said, smiling.

’His mother used to obtain her groceries from your uncle.  If you could have presented the colonel to me—­well, never mind.  I presume the major is on the quee vive.’

‘He’ll be ha’ein’ a wash an’ brush up, I wud say.’

’But why are you not being drilled or digging up trenches or firing guns——­’

‘We’re a’ deid men this efternune.  Had a big rout mairch the day.’

‘Oh, indeed!  Well, when does the band play?’

‘The baun’s burstit wi’ the rout mairch.  It couldna blaw the ash aff a ceegarette.  I’m rael sorry——­’

’I would like to inspect the apartments you live in.  Pray conduct me——­’

‘Some o’ the chaps is cleanin’ theirsel’s.  If ye like, I’ll tell them to hurry up or get ablow the blankets.’

‘Certainly not!’ said Mrs. Purdie with decision.  ’Is there no tea-room adjacent?’

‘Jist the canteen.  I doobt I couldna I tak’ ye inside, but I could fetch ye oot a drink—­something T.T., I suppose?’

She waved the offer away.   ’Is there | nothing to be perceived or
observed in this camp?’ she inquired with some impatience.  |

Her nephew scratched his head.  ‘Weel,’ he said at last, ’there’s the view frae this end, an’ there’s the view frae the ither end.  I’m sorry ye’ve come when there’s naething daein’.’