'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.
'It wad ill become us, ony gait,' said her father, 'nae to gie him shelter for your sake, Mrs.Faukner, no to mention ither names, sin' it's yer wull to mak the puir lad ane o' the family .-- They say his ain mither's run awa' an' left him.' ''Deed she's dune that.' 'Can ye mak onything o' 'im ?' 'He's douce eneuch.

An' Robert says he does nae that ill at the schuil.' 'Weel, jist fess him wi' ye.

We'll hae some place or ither to put him intil, gin it suld be only a shak'-doon upo' the flure.' 'Na, na.

There's the schuilin'-- what's to be dune wi' that ?' 'They can gang i' the mornin', and get their denner wi' Betty here; and syne come hame to their fower-hoors (four o'clock tea) whan the schule's ower i' the efternune.

'Deed, mem, ye maun jist come for the sake o' the auld frien'ship atween the faimilies.' 'Weel, gin it maun be sae, it maun be sae,' yielded Mrs.Falconer, with a sigh.
She had not left her own house for a single night for ten years.