



Produced by John Bechard.  HTML version by Al Haines.








Note from electronic text creator:  I have compiled a word list with
definitions of most of the Scottish words found in this work at the
end of the book.  This list does not belong to the original work,
but is designed to help with the conversations in Broad Scots found
in this work.  A further explanation of this list can be found
towards the end of this document, preceding the word list.

There are three footnotes in this book which have been renumbered
and placed at the end of the work.

Any notes that I have made within the text (e.g. relating to Greek words
in the text) have been enclosed in {} brackets.




SIR GIBBIE.


BY

GEORGE MACDONALD, LL.D.



CONTENTS

       I.  THE EARRING.
      II.  SIR GEORGE.
     III.  MISTRESS CROALE.
      IV.  THE PARLOUR.
       V.  GIBBIE'S CALLING.
      VI.  A SUNDAY AT HOME.
     VII.  THE TOWN-SPARROW.
    VIII.  <DW71>.
      IX.  ADRIFT.
       X.  THE BARN.
      XI.  JANET.
     XII.  GLASHGAR.
    XIII.  THE CEILING.
     XIV.  HORNIE.
      XV.  DONAL GRANT.
     XVI.  APPRENTICESHIP.
    XVII.  SECRET SERVICE.
   XVIII.  THE BROONIE.
     XIX.  THE LAIRD.
      XX.  THE AMBUSH.
     XXI.  THE PUNISHMENT.
    XXII.  REFUGE.
   XXIII.  MORE SCHOOLING.
    XXIV.  THE SLATE.
     XXV.  RUMOURS.
    XXVI.  THE GAMEKEEPER
   XXVII.  A VOICE.
  XXVIII.  THE WISDOM OF THE WISE.
    XXIX.  THE BEAST-BOY.
     XXX.  THE LORRIE MEADOW.
    XXXI.  THEIR REWARD.
   XXXII.  PROLOGUE.
  XXXIII.  THE MAINS.
   XXXIV.  GLASHRUACH.
    XXXV.  THE WHELP.
   XXXVI.  THE BRANDER.
  XXXVII.  MR. SCLATER.
 XXXVIII.  THE MUCKLE HOOSE.
   XXXIX.  DAUR STREET.
      XL.  MRS. SCLATER.
     XLI.  INITIATION.
    XLII.  DONAL'S LODGING.
   XLIII.  THE MINISTER'S DEFEAT.
    XLIV.  THE SINNER.
     XLV.  SHOALS AHEAD.
    XLVI.  THE GIRLS.
   XLVII.  A LESSON OF WISDOM.
  XLVIII.  NEEDFULL ODDS AND ENDS.
    XLIX.  THE HOUSELESS.
       L.  A WALK.
      LI.  THE NORTH CHURCH.
     LII.  THE QUARRY.
    LIII.  A NIGHT-WATCH.
     LIV.  OF AGE.
      LV.  TEN AULD HOOSE O' GALBRAITH.
     LVI.  THE LAIRD AND THE PREACHER.
    LVII.  A HIDING-PLACE FROM THE WIND.
   LVIII.  THE CONFESSION.
     LIX.  CATASTROPHE.
      LX.  ARRANGEMENT AND PREPARATION.
     LXI.  THE WEDDING.
    LXII.  THE BURN.




CHAPTER I.

THE EARRING.

"Come oot o' the gutter, ye nickum!" cried, in harsh, half-masculine
voice, a woman standing on the curbstone of a short, narrow, dirty
lane, at right angles to an important thoroughfare, itself none of
the widest or cleanest.  She was dressed in dark petticoat and print
wrapper.  One of her shoes was down at the heel, and discovered a
great hole in her stocking.  Had her black hair been brushed and
displayed, it would have revealed a thready glitter of grey, but all
that was now visible of it was only two or three untidy tresses that
dropped from under a cap of black net and green ribbons, which
looked as if she had slept in it.  Her face must have been handsome
when it was young and fresh; but was now beginning to look tattooed,
though whether the colour was from without or from within, it would
have been hard to determine.  Her black eyes looked resolute, almost
fierce, above her straight, well-formed nose.  Yet evidently
circumstance clave fast to her.  She had never risen above it, and
was now plainly subjected to it.

About thirty yards from her, on the farther side of the main street,
and just opposite the mouth of the lane, a child, apparently about
six, but in reality about eight, was down on his knees raking with
both hands in the grey dirt of the kennel.  At the woman's cry he
lifted his head, ceased his search, raised himself, but without
getting up, and looked at her.  They were notable eyes out of which
he looked--of such a deep blue were they, and having such long
lashes; but more notable far from their expression, the