We must now pass over some years in

the life of William 66

'Strong," merely informing our readers that during those years he continued to be a stableman, till at last he entered the service of a Colonel Mowbray as head-groom, with the charge of several riding horses, and his duties including attendance on Mrs Mowbray, a young and beautiful woman, and her children whenever they rode out. Here we will leave him for the present and return to Jock.

CHAPTER XI.

LANDED.

AFTER Jock had been for some years a bandsman, the regiment to which he was attached was ordered to Scotland, much to his delight, for he was a true son of the "Land o' Cakes," and never forgot his nationality, but always yearned after his "ain countrie." Directly he heard the name of the town where they were to be quartered, i.e., Berwick, it flashed across him that there was his destination when on his way to his uncle's, and he determined as soon as he could after his arrival to seek out his kinsfolk if they were still living.

To his enquiries for any one of the

name of Armstrong, he received of course the reply that more than one family of the name was to be found in the town, and as he neither recollected his uncle's Christian name nor his trade, he had some difficulty in discovering his relations; but one day while pursuing his quest he noticed his own name over a small draper's shop, so went in and requested to see the master. A young man about his own age came forward, and Jock immediately enquired whether he knew anything of "one Armstrong who'd a brother in India," for thus much had come back to his memory of his father. The shopman replied, "Yes, my feyther had a brither in India," and some further conversation soon convinced both that they must be cousins. The young draper took him to his father's house.

John Armstrong had given up attending the shop himself, and had almost handed over the business to his eldest son Andrew, but he was still a strong healthy man, though, as he described himself, “a wee thingie stiff aboot the legs."

His account of his sister-in-law's death and Jock's own disappearance soon established the fact of our hero's identity, and great was the rejoicing of his relatives at having found him, and over his well-doing; and many the exclamations of good Ailie at hearing of his wanderings in London, and his illness at the Misselbrooks', to whom she and her husband immediately determined to send a box of groceries, shortbread, Scotch bun, etc., as a token of their gratitude for the kindness shown to their nephew.

Both John and Ailie, however, shook their heads and looked somewhat distressed at hearing of Jock's profession, which to their rigid notions was a doubtful one, and one they thought "no just the best for a Christian man," but a further intimacy with their nephew showed them that his calling had in no way interfered with his religious feelings or principles.

He was much grieved to hear of the loss of Willie, and the complete failure of all attempts to discover his fate, but consoled himself and his newly-discovered kindred with the thought that as he had turned up after so many years, there was a chance of his brother's doing the same.

John Armstrong informed him that he still occasionally received letters from Lady Tresillian, who always inquired if anything