Falconer, 'that he rins as gin
I war a boodie? But it's nae wonner he canna bide the sicht o' a
decent body, for he's no used till 't. What does he want wi' you,
Robert?'
But Robert had a reason for not telling his grandmother what the boy
had told him: he thought the news about his mother would only make
her disapprove of him the more. In this he judged wrong. He did
not know his grandmother yet.
'He's in my class at the schuil,' said Robert, evasively.
'Him? What class, noo?'
Robert hesitated one moment, but, compelled to give some answer,
said, with confidence,
'The Bible-class.'
'I thocht as muckle! What gars ye play at hide and seek wi' me? Do
ye think I dinna ken weel eneuch there's no a lad or a lass at the
schuil but 's i' the Bible-class? What wants he here?'
'Ye hardly gae him time to tell me, grannie. Ye frichtit him.'
'Me fricht him! What for suld I fricht him, laddie? I'm no sic
ferlie (wonder) that onybody needs be frichtit at me.'
The old lady turned with visible, though by no means profound
offence upon her calm forehead, and walking back into her parlour,
where Robert could see the fire burning right cheerily, shut the
door, and left him and Betty standing together in the transe. The
latter returned to the kitchen, to resume the washing of the
dinner-dishes; and the former returned to his post at the window.
He had not stood more than half a minute, thinking what was to be
done with his school-fellow deserted of his mother, when the sound
of a coach-horn drew his attention to the right, down the street,
where he could see part of the other street which crossed it at
right angles, and in which the gable of the house stood.
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