The big man's penitent face lights up with sudden enthusiasm.
"She is coming to-morrow!" he roars exultantly.
"Aye, you may pretend tae be glad! But she shall hear aboot Jean M'Taggart all the same," replies the old lady.
This, of course, is a tremendous joke, and the inquisition is suspended while mother and son chuckle deeply at the idea of Dolly's desperate jealousy. Suddenly Mrs Fordyce breaks off to ask a question.
"Did ye mind tae shut the gate of the west field?"
Robin thinks, and then raises clenched hands to heaven in an agony of remorse.
His mother groans in a resigned sort of way.
"Run!" she says, "or ye'll hae all the sheep oot in the road! Get them back, and I'll no' tell David on ye!"
Her son bounds away down the slope, but a further command pursues him.
"An' come back soon! I'll no' be getting you tae myself over much after—to-morrow!"