"But," I said, "Jean never has a dirty neck, Annie."
"Weel, what did she say that Aw was a navvy's lass for then?" she demanded indignantly.
"I'm afraid that she has seen you speaking to navvies, Annie."
Annie became excited. She clutched Janet by the sleeve.
"Eh! What an insult!" she cried. "Janet Broon, div Aw speak to navvies?"
"Never in a' yer life," said Janet firmly, "never wance ... unless yon day that the twa o' them speered at ye the wye to the huts."
"But Aw didna answer," said Annie quickly; "Aw just pointed."
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Sure as daith," she declared solemnly, and she cut her breath. "Aw maybe wud ha' spoken," she admitted, "but Aw had a muckle lump o' jaw-stickin' toffee in my mooth, and Aw cudna speak supposin' Aw had wanted to."