His grandmother herself delivered him from this difficulty.
'Robert, come here,' she called from the parlour door.

And Robert obeyed.
'Is 't dingin' on, Robert ?' she asked.
'No, grannie; it's only a starnie o' drift.' The meaning of this was that there was no fresh snow falling, or beating on, only a little surface snow blowing about.
'Weel, jist pit yer shune on, man, and rin up to Miss Naper's upo' the Squaur, and say to Miss Naper, wi' my compliments, that I wad be sair obleeged till her gin she wad len' me that fine receipt o' hers for crappit heids, and I'll sen' 't back safe the morn's mornin'.

Rin, noo.' This commission fell in admirably with Robert's plans, and he started at once..