"Did they pay aany rent?" she asked as she closed the book. "Did th' foxes have leases fur their holes?"
"No."
"No, indeed, an' d'ye think He cares less fur boys than birds?"
"Oh, no."
"Oh, no, an' ye know rightly that everything aroun' Antrim is jist a demesne full o' pheasants an' rabbits for them quality t' shoot, an' we git thransported if we get a male whin we're hungry!"
The lady was tender-hearted and full of sympathy, but she hadn't traveled along the same road as Anna and didn't know. Behind the screen the group was jubilant, but when they saw the sympathy on the tract woman's face they sobered and looked sad.
"I must go," she said, "and God bless you, Anna," and Anna replied, "God bless you kindly, dear."
When Anna went behind the screen Jamie grabbed her and pressed her closely to him. "Ye're a match for John Rae any day, ye are that, woman!"
The kettle was lowered to the burning turf and there was a round of tea. The children and visitors sat on the floor.
"Now that ye're in sich fine fettle, Anna," Jamie said, "jist toss th' cups for us!"