But he
could do nothing for her, he thought, till it was warm weather. He
was accompanied by his daughter, a woman approaching the further
verge of youth, bulky and florid, and as full of tenderness as her
large frame could hold. After much, and, for a long time,
apparently useless persuasion, they at last believed they had
prevailed upon her to pay them a visit for a fortnight. But she had
only retreated within another of her defences.
'I canna leave thae twa laddies alane. They wad be up to a'
mischeef.'
'There's Betty to luik efter them,' suggested Miss Lammie.
'Betty!' returned Mrs. Falconer, with scorn. 'Betty's naething but a
bairn hersel'--muckler and waur faured (worse favoured).'
'But what for shouldna ye fess the lads wi' ye?' suggested Mr.
Lammie.
'I hae no richt to burden you wi' them.'
'Weel, I hae aften wonnert what gart ye burden yersel' wi' that
Shargar, as I understan' they ca' him,' said Mr. Lammie.
'Jist naething but a bit o' greed,' returned the old lady, with the
nearest approach to a smile that had shown itself upon her face
since Mr. Lammie's last visit.
'I dinna understan' that, Mistress Faukner,' said Miss Lammie.
'I'm sae sure o' haein' 't back again, ye ken,--wi' interest,'
returned Mrs. Falconer.
'Hoo's that? His father winna con ye ony thanks for haudin' him in
life.'
'He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord, ye ken, Miss
Lammie.'
'Atweel, gin ye like to lippen to that bank, nae doobt ae way or
anither it'll gang to yer accoont,' said Miss Lammie.
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