"I was never sure o' Mrs. Dishart. When I hand her the Mentor she looks as if she didna care a stroke for't—"
"Tommy!"
"I'm doubting," he said sadly, "that she's ower fond o' Words We have no Concern with."
Miss Ailie would not listen to such talk, but she approved of the suggestion that "Waverley" should be returned not to the minister, but to his wife, and she accepted gratefully Tommy's kindly offer to act as bearer. Only happening to open the book in the middle, she—
"I'm waiting," said Tommy, after ten minutes.
She did not hear him.
"I'm waiting," he said again, but she was now in the next chapter.
"Maybe you would like to read it yoursel'!" he cried, and then she came to, and, with a shudder handed him the book. But after he had gone she returned to the kitchen to reprove Gavinia at greater length, and in the midst of the reproof she said faintly: "You did not happen to look at the end, did you?"
"That I did," replied Gavinia.
"And did she—did he—"