Auntie had been listening to evil tongues�-so much easier to listen to than just tongues. With difficulty Annie kept back her tears. She made no defence; tried to eat the porridge which her aunt set before her; and departed. Before three hours were over, she had the charge of the dairy and cooking at Willowcraig for the next six months of coming winter and spring. Protected from suspicion, her spirits rose all the cheerier for their temporary depression, and she went singing about the house like a lintie.
"As she did not appear at breakfast, and was absent from the dinner-table as well, Mrs Forbes set out with Alec to inquire after her, and not knowing where else to go first, betook herself to Robert Bruce. He showed more surprise than pleasure at seeing Alec, smiling with his own acridness as he said,
"I doobt ye haena brocht hame that barrel o' ile ye promised me, Mr
Alec? It wad hae cleared aff a guid sheave o' yer mither's debts."
Alec answered cheerily, although his face flushed,
"All in good time, I hope, Mr Bruce. I'm obliged to you for your forbearance, though."
He was too solemn-glad to be angry.
"It canna laist for ever, ye ken," rejoined Bruce, happy to be able to bite, although his poison-bag was gone.
Alec made no reply.
"Have you seen Annie Anderson to-day, Mr Bruce?" asked his mother.
"'Deed no, mem. She doesna aften trouble huz wi' her company. We're no gran' eneuch for her."