"Quite well, I thank ye, mem," answered Annie, showing in her voice that she was owerawed by the grand lady, yet mistress enough of her manners not to forget a pretty modest courtesy as she spoke. "What's gaein' on at the school the day, Annie?" asked Alec. "Naething by ordidar," answered Annie, the sweetness of her tones contrasting with the roughness of the dialect. "The maister's a hantle quaieter than usual. I fancy he's a' the better behaved for's brunt fingers. But, oh, Alec!" And here the little maiden burst into a passionate fit of crying. "What's the matter, Annie," said Mrs Forbes, as she drew her nearer, genuinely concerned at the child's tears. "Oh! mem, ye didna see hoo the maister lickit him, or ye wad hae grutten yersel'." Tears from some mysterious source sprang to Mrs Forbes's eyes. But at the moment Mary opened the door, and said-- "Here's Maister Bruce, mem, wantin' to see ye." "Tell him to walk up, Mary." "Oh! no, no, mem; dinna lat him come till I'm out o' this. He'll tak' me wi' him," cried Annie. Mary stood waiting the result. "But you must go home, you know, Annie," said Mrs Forbes, kindly. "Ay, but no wi' _him_," pleaded Annie. From what Mrs Forbes knew of the manners and character of Bruce, she was not altogether surprised at Annie's reluctance. So, turning to the maid, she said-- "Have you told Mr Bruce that Miss Anderson is here?" "Me tell him! No, mem. What's _his_ business?" "Mary, you forget yourself." "Weel, mem, I canna bide him." "Hold your tongue, Mary," said her mistress, hardly able to restrain her own amusement, "and take the child into my room till he is gone. But perhaps he knows you are here, Annie?" "He canna ken that, mem. He jumps at things whiles, though, sharp eneuch." "Well, well! We shall see." So Mary led Annie away to the sanctuary of Mrs Forbes's bed-room. But the Bruce was not upon Annie's track at all. His visit wants a few words of explanation.