the school-room, where the feast was ready, it was Tommy who put the guests in their places (even the banker cringed to him), it was.  Tommy who winked to Mr. Dishart as a sign to say grace.  As you will readily believe, Miss Ailie could not endure the thought of excluding her pupils from the festivities, and they began to arrive as soon as the tables had been cleared of all save oranges and tarts and raisins.  Tommy, waving Gavinia aside, showed them in, and one of them, curious to tell, was Corp, in borrowed blacks, and Tommy shook hands with him and called him Mr. Shiach, both new experiences to Corp, who knocked over a table in his anxiety to behave himself, and roared at intervals “Do you see the little deevil!” and bit his warts and then politely swallowed the blood.

As if oranges and tarts and raisins were not enough, came the Punch and Judy show, Tommy’s culminating triumph.  All the way to Redlintie had Mr. McLean sent for the Punch and Judy show, and nevertheless there was a probability of no performance, for Miss Ailie considered the show immoral.  Most anxious was she to give pleasure to her pupils, and this she knew was the best way, but how could she countenance an entertainment which was an encouragement to every form of vice and crime?  To send these children to the Misses Langlands and Oram, fresh from an introduction to the comic view of murder!  It could not be done, now could it?  Mr. McLean could make no suggestion.  Mr. Dishart thought it would be advisable to substitute another entertainment; was there not a game called “The Minister’s Cat”?  Mrs. Dishart thought they should have the show and risk the consequences.  So also thought Dr. McQueen.  The banker was consulted, but saw no way out of the difficulty, nor did the lawyer, nor did the Misses Finlayson.  Then Tommy appeared on the scene, and presently retired to find a way.

He found it.  The performance took place, and none of the fun was omitted, yet neither Miss Ailie—­tuts, tuts Mrs. McLean—­nor Mr. Dishart could disapprove.  Punch did chuck his baby out at the window (roars of laughter) in his jovial time-honored way, but immediately thereafter up popped the showman to say, “Ah, my dear boys and girls, let this be a lesson to you never to destroy your offsprings.  Oh, shame on Punch, for to do the wicked deed; he will be catched in the end and serve him right.”  Then when Mr. Punch had wolloped his wife with the stick, amid thunders of applause, up again bobbed the showman, “Ah, my dear boys and girls, what a lesson is this we sees, what goings on is this?  He have bashed the head of her as should ha’ been the apple of his eye, and he does not care a—­he does not care; but mark my words, his home it will now be desolate, no more shall she meet him at his door with kindly smile, he have done for her quite, and now he is a hunted man.  Oh, be warned by his sad igsample, and do not bash the head of your loving wife.”  And there was a great deal more of the same, and simple Mrs. McLean almost wept tears of joy because her favorite’s good heart had suggested these improvements.