Had Robert not had a hold of Betty by the forelock of her years, he would have been unable to steal any liberty at all. Still Betty had a conscience, and although she would not offend Robert if she could help it, yet she would not lie. ''Deed, mem, I canna jist distinckly say 'at I heard the door,' she answered. 'Whaur's Robert?' was her next question. 'He's generally up the stair aboot this hoor, mem--that is, whan he's no i' the parlour at 's lessons.' 'What gangs he sae muckle up the stair for, Betty, do ye ken? It's something by ordinar' wi' 'm.' ''Deed I dinna ken, mem. I never tuik it into my heid to gang considerin' aboot it. He'll hae some ploy o' 's ain, nae doobt. Laddies will be laddies, ye ken, mem.' 'I doobt, Betty, ye'll be aidin' an' abettin'. An' it disna become yer years, Betty.' 'My years are no to fin' faut wi', mem. They're weel eneuch.' 'That's naething to the pint, Betty. What's the laddie aboot?' 'Do ye mean whan he gangs up the stair, mem?' 'Ay. Ye ken weel eneuch what I mean.' 'Weel, mem, I tell ye I dinna ken. An' ye never heard me tell ye a lee sin' ever I was i' yer service, mem.' 'Na, nae doonricht. Ye gang aboot it an' aboot it, an' at last ye come sae near leein' that gin ye spak anither word, ye wad be at it; and it jist fleys (frights) me frae speirin' ae ither question at ye. An' that's hoo ye win oot o' 't. But noo 'at it's aboot my ain oye (grandson), I'm no gaein' to tyne (lose) him to save a woman o' your years, wha oucht to ken better; an sae I'll speir at ye, though ye suld be driven to lee like Sawtan himsel'.--What's he aboot whan he gangs up the stair? Noo!' 'Weel, as sure's deith, I dinna ken. Ye drive me to sweirin', mem, an' no to leein'.' 'I carena. Hae ye no idea aboot it, than, Betty?' 'Weel, mem, I think sometimes he canna be weel, and maun hae a tod (fox) in 's stamack, or something o' that nater. For what he eats is awfu'. An' I think whiles he jist gangs up the stair to eat at 's ain wull.' 'That jumps wi' my ain observations, Betty. Do ye think he micht hae a rabbit, or maybe a pair o' them, in some boxie i' the garret, noo?' 'And what for no, gin he had, mem?' 'What for no? Nesty stinkin' things! But that's no the pint. I aye hae to haud ye to the pint, Betty. The pint is, whether he has rabbits or no?' 'Or guinea-pigs,' suggested Betty. 'Weel.' 'Or maybe a pup or twa. Or I kent a laddie ance 'at keepit a haill faimily o' kittlins. Or maybe he micht hae a bit lammie. There was an uncle o' min' ain--' 'Haud yer tongue, Betty! Ye hae ower muckle to say for a' the sense there's intil 't.' 'Weel, mem, ye speirt questions at me.' 'Weel, I hae had eneuch o' yer answers, Betty. Gang and tell Robert to come here direckly.' Betty went, knowing perfectly that Robert had gone out, and returned with the information. Her mistress searched her face with a keen eye. 'That maun hae been himsel' efter a' whan ye thocht ye hard the door gang,' said Betty.