D'ye mind the wee lassie that was sae still till she began to know ye--the weest one of them a'?
Aye?
Weel, she was born six months after her faither went awa', and I think she's our favorite among them a'." "And ye ha' the care and the feedin' and the clothin' o' all that brood ?" I said.

"Is it no cruel hard' ?" "Hard enow," said the auld man, breaking his silence.

"But we'd no be wi'oot them.

They brichten up the hoose it'd be dull' and drear wi'oot them.

I'm hoping that daft lad never comes back, for all o' Lizzie's thinking on him!" And I share his hope.