She could keep up the bravado of humour no longer.

She fairly burst out crying.

In a moment more the shoes and stockings were off, and the blisters in the hot water.

Miss Letty's tears dropped into the tub, and the salt in them did not hurt the feet with which she busied herself, more than was necessary, to hide them.
But no sooner had she recovered herself than she resumed her former tone.
'A shillin'! said ye?
An' a' thae greedy gleds (kites) o' professors to pay, that live upo' the verra blude and banes o' sair-vroucht students! Hoo cud ye hae a shillin' ower?
Troth, it's nae wonner ye haena ane left.

An' a' the merchan's there jist leevin' upo' ye! Lord hae a care o' 's! sic bonnie feet!--Wi' blisters I mean.