An elderly woman took care of his house, whose habitual attitude towards him was one half of awe and half of resistance.

The moment he entered, she left the room where she had been sitting, without a word of welcome, and betook herself to the kitchen, where she prepared his plate of porridge or bowl of brose.
With this in one hand, and a jug of milk in the other, she soon returned, placing them like a peace-offering on the table before him.
Having completed the arrangement by the addition of a horn spoon from a cupboard in the wall, she again retired in silence.

The moment she vanished Thomas's blue bonnet was thrown into a corner, and with folded hands and bent head he prayed a silent prayer over his homely meal.
By this time Alec and Curly, having received sufficient instruction from George Macwha, were in full swing with their boat-building.

But the moment Thomas went, Alec, had taken Annie to the forge to get her well-dried, before he would allow her to occupy her old place in the heap of spales.
"Wha's preachin' at the missionar-kirk the morn, Willie ?" asked the boy's father, For Willie knew everything that took place in Glamerton.
"Mr Broon," answered Curly.
"He's a guid man that, ony gait," returned his father.

"There's nae mony like him.