"Dinna fash yersel', Annie, darling.

Ye shall keep your wean--our wean." "But it's true, what the doctor said, that it wad be better for our bairn, Jamie----" "Oh, aye--no doot he meant it in kindness and weel enow, Annie.

But how should he understand, that's never had bairn o' his own to twine its fingers around one o' his?
Nor seen the licht in his wife's een as she laid them on her wean ?" Annie was comforted by the love in his voice, and fell asleep.

But when the morn came the bairn was worse, and greetin' pitifully.

And it was Annie herself who spoke, timidly, of what the doctor had offered.
Jamie had told her nothing of the hundred pounds; he knew she would feel as he did, that if they gave up the bairn it wad be for his ain sake, and not for the siller.
"Oh, Jamie, my man, I've been thinkin'," said puir Annie.