"Cheeky things!" said Janet with scorn.
I became interested at once.
"Rivals in a love affair?" I asked.
They sniffed, and ignored the query.
"It was Jean," said Annie bitterly. "She went and telt the Mester that Aw spoke when he was oot o' the room."
"Aye," said Janet, "she put doon my name tae. Wait er I get her at hame the nicht!"
I understood. Macdonald evidently favours the obnoxious practice of setting a bairn to spy on the others ... a silly thing to do.
"Aye," went on Annie, "and she called us navvies' lasses!"
"And you replied?"
"Aw telt her to g'wa hame and darn the hole in her stockin'. 'Aye,' Aw said, 'and ye can wash yer neck at the same time, Jean Broon!'"