Languages & literature > A window in Thrums

CHAPTER XVI.
THE SON FROM LONDON.
In the spring of the year there used to come to
Thrums a painter from nature whom Hendry spoke
of as the drawer. He lodged with Jess in my attic,
and when the weavers met him they said, “Weel,
drawer,” and then passed on, grinning. Tammas
Haggart was the first to say this.
The drawer was held a poor man because he
straggled about the country looking for subjects
for his draws, and Jess, as was her way, gave him
many comforts for which she would not charge.
That, I daresay, was why he painted for her a
little portrait of Jamie. When the drawer came
back to Thrums he always found the painting in
a frame in the room. Here I must make a con¬
fession about Jess. She did not in her secret mind
think the portrait quite the thing, and as soon as