What does he want wi' you, Robert?
Gie him a piece, Betty, and lat him gang .-- Eh, sirs! the callant hasna a stockin'-fit upo' 'im--and in sic weather!' For, before she had finished her speech, the visitor, as if in terror of her nearer approach, had turned his back, and literally showed her, if not a clean pair of heels, yet a pair of naked heels from between the soles and uppers of his shoes: if he had any stockings at all, they ceased before they reached his ankles.
'What ails him at me ?' continued Mrs.Falconer, 'that he rins as gin I war a boodie?
But it's nae wonner he canna bide the sicht o' a decent body, for he's no used till 't.

What does he want wi' you, Robert ?' But Robert had a reason for not telling his grandmother what the boy had told him: he thought the news about his mother would only make her disapprove of him the more.

In this he judged wrong.

He did not know his grandmother yet.
'He's in my class at the schuil,' said Robert, evasively.
'Him?
What class, noo ?' Robert hesitated one moment, but, compelled to give some answer, said, with confidence, 'The Bible-class.' 'I thocht as muckle! What gars ye play at hide and seek wi' me?
Do ye think I dinna ken weel eneuch there's no a lad or a lass at the schuil but 's i' the Bible-class?
What wants he here ?' 'Ye hardly gae him time to tell me, grannie.

Ye frichtit him.' 'Me fricht him! What for suld I fricht him, laddie?
I'm no sic ferlie (wonder) that onybody needs be frichtit at me.' The old lady turned with visible, though by no means profound offence upon her calm forehead, and walking back into her parlour, where Robert could see the fire burning right cheerily, shut the door, and left him and Betty standing together in the transe.