and plaintive, and though Maggie gave the English words with her own
patois, the beauty and simplicity of the song was by no means injured.
"Put by the books, David," said Allan. "I have no heart now for
dry-as-dust lessons. Let us speak of Maggie. How is she going to live when
you go to Glasgow?"

"She will just bide where she is. It is her ain hame, and she is amang her
ain folk."

"Surely she will not live alone?"

"Na, na, that wed gie occasion for ill tongues to set themsel's to wark.
Aunt Janet Caird is coming to be company for her. She is fayther's sister,
and no quite beyond the living wi'. I thocht o' taking the boat the morn,
and going for her."

"Where to?"

"About twenty miles to the nor'ward, to a bit hamlet, thae call Dron
Point."

"What kind of a woman is she, David? I hope she is kind and pleasant."

"We can hope sae, sir; but I really dinna expect it. Aunt Janet had a bad
name wi' us, when we were bairns, but bairns' judgment isn't to lippen
to."

"I think it is. If you have any fear about Aunt Janet being good to live
with, don't go for her."