DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22217#0203
ONE LESS TO EAT.
191
the home of his old friend he turned his steps—a shabby
shadow, walking softly and hurriedly upon stocking soles, for
his boots had long since gone to feed the hungry bairns. He
was thoroughly ashamed of his appearance, and nothing short of
his great anxiety for the boy would have roused him to brave
the humiliation of appearing before Borland. The house was
a respectable flat in Lothian Street, and the same which the
baker had occupied for years. Mossman made certain by
examining the bell-plates by the light of the street lamps, and
then rang and was admitted. To his relief the door was
opened by Borland himself, who had been busy looking over
his books at home after the rest of the household were in bed.
The prosperous baker stared at the gaunt and poorly-clad
figure rising before him out of the darkness of the stair, and
then exclaimed, in lively horror—
" Good God ! it's not Geordie Mossman?"
" I've come after my laddie," said the other, hurriedly. " I
sent him to your shop hours ago, to—to ask a favour, and he's
never come back."
" I'm no an hour hame," said Borland, "and he never came
near while I was there. But I'm no in the auld place now,
and maybe he's wandered a bit in looHn' for the new shop.
Man, Geordie," he added with deep feeling, and wringing the
other's hand with a fervour unmistakable, " is it possible ye've
been in distress and never let me ken ? Come in by and tell
me a' about it."
Kindness is more overpowering than cruelty. The poor
baker staggered, trembled, and then fairly broke down, and
was then hurried into the house, planted down by a rousing
fire, and there forced to sit at ease, while the stout baker
hastened to pile before him half the eatables in the house.
While thus busy diving in and out the room as a -means of
concealing his own emotion, Borland managed to draw from
his broken-down visitor an account of his misfortunes, and the
state of things in his home; and then he quietly slipped out
of the room, roused his wife out of bed, and sent her off in
that direction with a bundle and a basket, which she and the
servant girl could scarce carry between them. Then he got a
pair of boots and a coat and muffler for Mossman, and the
two set out to search for Johnny. Borland advised that they
should go to the Police Office first, but that Mossman would
not hear of, declaring that that was the last place Johnny
would go near. When they had spent an hour in the streets
191
the home of his old friend he turned his steps—a shabby
shadow, walking softly and hurriedly upon stocking soles, for
his boots had long since gone to feed the hungry bairns. He
was thoroughly ashamed of his appearance, and nothing short of
his great anxiety for the boy would have roused him to brave
the humiliation of appearing before Borland. The house was
a respectable flat in Lothian Street, and the same which the
baker had occupied for years. Mossman made certain by
examining the bell-plates by the light of the street lamps, and
then rang and was admitted. To his relief the door was
opened by Borland himself, who had been busy looking over
his books at home after the rest of the household were in bed.
The prosperous baker stared at the gaunt and poorly-clad
figure rising before him out of the darkness of the stair, and
then exclaimed, in lively horror—
" Good God ! it's not Geordie Mossman?"
" I've come after my laddie," said the other, hurriedly. " I
sent him to your shop hours ago, to—to ask a favour, and he's
never come back."
" I'm no an hour hame," said Borland, "and he never came
near while I was there. But I'm no in the auld place now,
and maybe he's wandered a bit in looHn' for the new shop.
Man, Geordie," he added with deep feeling, and wringing the
other's hand with a fervour unmistakable, " is it possible ye've
been in distress and never let me ken ? Come in by and tell
me a' about it."
Kindness is more overpowering than cruelty. The poor
baker staggered, trembled, and then fairly broke down, and
was then hurried into the house, planted down by a rousing
fire, and there forced to sit at ease, while the stout baker
hastened to pile before him half the eatables in the house.
While thus busy diving in and out the room as a -means of
concealing his own emotion, Borland managed to draw from
his broken-down visitor an account of his misfortunes, and the
state of things in his home; and then he quietly slipped out
of the room, roused his wife out of bed, and sent her off in
that direction with a bundle and a basket, which she and the
servant girl could scarce carry between them. Then he got a
pair of boots and a coat and muffler for Mossman, and the
two set out to search for Johnny. Borland advised that they
should go to the Police Office first, but that Mossman would
not hear of, declaring that that was the last place Johnny
would go near. When they had spent an hour in the streets