14 The Little Minister

if bought by the half hundredweight, were his
food. There was not always a good meal for two,
yet when Gavin reached home at night there was
generally something ready for him, and Margaret
had supped “hours ago.” Gavin’s hunger urged
him to fall to, but his love for his mother made
him watchful.

“What did you have yourself, mother?” he
would demand, suspiciously.

“Qh, I had a fine supper, I assure you.”

“What had you?”

“‘T had potatoes, for one thing.”

“ And dripping?”

“You may be sure.”

“Mother, you’re cheating me. The dripping
hasn’t been touched since yesterday.”

“JT dinna— don’t —care for dripping — no
much.”

Then would Gavin stride the room fiercely, a
queer little figure.

* Do you think [ll stand this, mother? Will
I let myself be pampered with dripping and every
delicacy while you starve?”

“Gavin, I really dinna care for dripping.”

“Then I'll give up my classes, and we can
have butter.”

“T assure you I’m no hungry. It’s different
wi’ a growing laddie.”

“I’m not a growing laddie,” Gavin would say,
bitterly ; “but, mother, I warn you that not an-
other bite passes my throat till I see you eating,
too.”

So Margaret had to take her seat at the table,
and when she said “I can eat no more,’ Gavin