'You look just as if you had been sitting there continuously since I saw you last,' Gladys said involuntarily.
'So I have, maistly,' replied Teen dully, 'an' will sit or they cairry me oot.'
'Oh, I hope not; indeed, you will not. Have you had a hard summer?'
'Middlin'; it's been waur. Five weeks in July I had nae wark; but I've been langer than that—in winter, too. In summer it's no' sae bad. When ye're cauld, ye feel the want o' meat waur.'
'Have you really sometimes not had food?' asked Gladys in a shocked voice.
'Whiles. Do you ken onything aboot Liz?' she asked, suddenly breaking off, and lifting her large sunken eyes to the sweet face opposite to her.
'No; that is one of the things I came about to-day. Have you not heard anything of her?'
'No' a cheep. Naebody kens. I gaed up to Colquhoun Street one day to ask Walter, but he didna gie me muckle cuttin'. I say, he's gettin' on thonder.' She flashed a peculiar, sly glance at Gladys, and under it the latter's sensitive colour rose.
'I always knew he would,' she replied quietly. 'And he has not heard anything, either? Do you ever see her father and mother?'
'No; but it's the same auld sang. They're no' carin' a button whaur Liz is,' said Teen calmly.