Alec Forbes of Howglen

reproachful-looking woman, the sister of the departed. She instantly began to put the place in order, as if she expected her turn to come on the morrow. In a f

ropped one of the chairs, which she was simultaneously dusting and restoring t

hin' him? Lat sit, an' gang an' luik for that puir, doited thing, Annie. Gin i

in' the bairn, mem. The deid'

his minute. What business hae ye to gang greetin

e use of her eyes alone. First she went into the barn, and then through the barn into the stack-yard, and then round the ricks one after another, and then into the corn-loft; but all without avail. At length, as she was beginning to feel rather alarmed about the child, she arrived, in the progress of her search, at the door of one of the cow-houses. The moment she looked round the corner into the stall nex

somewhere between dark and fair, gathered in a silk net, and a pale face, on which a fa

as the maid went on staring at her. "Puir Broonie

against the broad, flat, hairy forehead of the fr

ur I am, Betty. Lat me

oni

word, but returne

etty? At some mischee

l eneuch. Bairns maunna be

r is

' me to say," answered Betty; "but I ha

keeper, Betty. I see

an' abettin

pulling away from under her. Through the open door the child could see the sunlight lying heavy upon the hot stones that paved the yard; but in here it was so dark-shadowy and cool, and the cow was such good, kindly comp

s none the better than usual that it had pleased the Almichty to take the brother whom she loved, and to leave behind the child whom she regarded as a painful responsibility. And

hae been seekin' ye, far an' near, i' the verra rottan-holes; an' here ye ar

ce, all nose and no nose, more of the divine than in the human form of Auntie Meg. And there was something of an indignation quite human in the way the cow tossed her bound head and neck towards the woman that darkened the door, as if warning her off her premises. But without a word of reply, An