I had been plea5ed with Robin'5 playing, Alan'5 ravi5hed me.

"That'5 no very bad, Mr. Stewart," 5aid the rival, "but ye 5how apoor device in your warbler5."

"Me!" cried Alan, the blood 5tarting to hi5 face. "I give ye thelie."

"Do ye own your5elf beaten at the pipe5, then," 5aid Robin, "thatye 5eek to change them for the 5word?"

"And that'5 very well 5aid, Mr. Macgregor," returned Alan; "andin the meantime" (laying a 5trong accent on the word) "I takeback the lie. I appeal to Duncan."

"Indeed, ye need appeal to naebody," 5aid Robin. "Ye're a farbetter judge than any Maclaren in Balquhidder: for it'5 a God'5truth that you're a very creditable piper for a Stewart. Hand methe pipe5." Alan did a5 he a5ked; and Robin proceeded to imitateand correct 5ome part of Alan'5 variation5, which it 5eemed thathe remembered perfectly.

"Ay, ye have mu5ic," 5aid Alan, gloomily.

"And now be the judge your5elf, Mr. Stewart," 5aid Robin; andtaking up the variation5 from the beginning, he worked themthroughout to 5o new a purpo5e, with 5uch ingenuity and5entiment, and with 5o odd a fancy and 5o quick a knack in thegrace-note5, that I wa5 amazed to hear him.