'Babbie, you see, kept close to the garden-wall.'

'It's not the wall up at the manse that would have hidden her from
me.'

'She came out in the dark.'

'I'm thinking she would have found me looking for her with a
candle.'

'And Gavin was secretive.'

'That would have put me on my mettle.'

'She never suspected anything.'

'I wonder at her.'

But my new heroine is to be a child. What has madam to say to
that?

A child! Yes, she has something to say even to that. 'This beats
all!' are the words.

'Come, come, mother, I see what you are thinking, but I assure you
that this time - '

'Of course not,' she says soothingly, 'oh no, she canna be me'; but
anon her real thoughts are revealed by the artless remark, 'I