‘Francie,’ she said, ‘I hae thoucht o’ something. My father has aye said, and ye ken he kens, ’at yer mother was a by ordinar guid rider in her young days, and this is what I wud hae ye du: gang straucht awa, whaurever ye think best, and buy for her the best luikin, best tempered, handiest, and easiest gaein leddy’s-horse ye can lay yer han’s upo’. Ye hae a gey fair beast o’ yer ain, my father says, and ye maun jist ride wi’ her whaurever she gangs.’
‘I’ll du ’t, Kirsty. I canna gang straucht awa, I doobt, though; I fear she has whusky left, and there’s no sayin what she micht du afore I wan back. I maun gang hame first.’
‘I’m no clear upo’ that. Ye canna weel gang and rype (search) a’ the kists and aumries i’ the hoose she ca’s her ain! That wud anger her terrible. Nor can ye weel lay han’s upon her, and tak frae her by force. A wuman micht du that, but a man, and special a wuman’s ain ae son, canna weel du ’t—that is, gien there’s ony ither coorse ’at can be followt. It seems to me ye maun tak the risk o’ her bottle. And it may be no ill thing ’at she sud disgrace hersel oot and oot. Onygait wi’ bein awa, and comin back wi’ the horse i’ yer han’ ye’ll come afore her like bringin wi’ ye a fresh beginnin, a new order o’ things like, and that w’y av’ide words wi’ her, and words maun aye be av’idit.’
Francis remained in thoughtful silence.
‘I hae little fear,’ pursued Kirsty, ‘but we’ll get her frae the drink a’thegither, and the houp is we may get something better putten intil her. Bein fou whiles, isna the main difficulty. But I beg yer pardon, Francie! I maunna forget ’at she’s your mother!’
‘Gien ye wud but tak her and me thegither, Kirsty, it wud be a gran’ thing for baith o’ ’s! Wi’ you to tak the half o’ ’t, I micht stan’ up un’er the weicht o’ my responsibility!’
‘I’m takin my share o’ that, onygait, daurin to advise ye, Francie!—Noo gang, laddie; gang straucht awa and buy the horse.’
‘I maun rin hame first, to put siller i’ my pooch! I s’ haud oot o’ her gait.’
‘Gang til my father for’t. I haena a penny, but he has aye plenty!’
‘I maun hae my horse; there’s nae co’ch till the morn’s mornin.’