under-garments. He was shown a tub of water, some soap, and several towels. He proceeded to remove the day's sweat.

When he was finished, he was given a set of new clothes, which rather overwhelmed him. Since he had never worn such things before, being inclined to accept his lot as one accustomed to poverty. These new clothes were made of the finest cotton, embroidered with silk, being were well designed, with cuffs, crafty sewing, ruffles and metal fasteners. He was struck by the whiteness of his stockings and the shine of his black shoes with their large brass buckles.

"I be mutton dressed up as ham!" said Duncan to himself, "But so be it. I may as well enjoy things as they stand, for it cannot last!"

Having made a fine gentleman of him with the clothes, the servants took Duncan to another room, where his face was shaved of its stubble, and his hair was cut tidy. He admired himself in a polished copper mirror, and wondered at the difference all the dandying made of him.

Duncan was next sat on a chair beside a fire, where slept two great wolf hounds upon the floor. A silver trolley was pushed to his side, whereon sat many sweet edibles, so Duncan thanked the maid who waited on him, and tucked in to a right good feed. Presently, lord Smythe came to see him.

"There is science in the parchment!" he said with great agitation, "And knowledge, such as I have never seen! You, Duncan, must favoured by God. He has honoured you as a genius of the highest order! I am honoured to think that, here in my domain, I have had the privilege to a man so favoured!"

Duncan was a little taken aback by this compliment, as he only saw the lord's money-collector twice a year, and he could not remember a time when the lord had done any praising of him before, but he nodded his head in agreement, so as not to offend.

"That’s a fine thing to be saying to one of your humble workers, my lord," said Duncan, "I be much humbled by it."

"What a man!" cried lord Smythe, "Such humility!"

Duncan could not tell his host that he was humble because he was really worthy of nothing, seeing as he was eating the man's cake, and drinking the man's wine, and he had very little of either in his own house.

"You are a prophet!" said lord Smythe.

"I be not," said Duncan, sheepishly, "Begging your