“Ay, but if any stranger come for him I was to tell my mammy.”
“Never mind,” said Neal, “you mustn’t disturb her now.”
“Will I no, then, when I was bid? Mammy I Mammy!”
In answer to the child’s cry, the mother opened the door.
“What ails you, Jinny? I beg pardon, sir, were you waiting long on me?”
“You don’t know me, Mrs. Birnie. You don’t remember me, but I came here one day before with James Hope.”
“I mind you rightly, now,” she said. “Come in and welcome, but if it’s my Johnny you’re wanting to see, he’s abroad the day.”
“I won’t disturb you,” said Neal.
“You’ll come in. You’ll no be disturbing me. There’s time enough for me to do what I was doing when the wean called me.”
Neal entered the house and sat down.