"I ken that, Marion," replied Elspa, mournfully.
"And what business then hae ye to come to snool me?"
Elspa for a little while made no answer to this, but, drying her eyes, she went to her seat composedly, and then said,—
"'Cause ye're my sister, and brought shame and disgrace on a' your family. O, Marion, I'm wae to say this! but ye're owre brave in your sin."
"Do ye think I'll e'er gae back to that havering, daunering cuif o' a creature, the Crail bailie?"
"He's a man o' mair worth and conduct, Marion," replied her sister, firmly, "than to put that in your power—even, woman, if ye were penitent, and besought him for charity."
"Weel, weel, no to clishmaclaver about him. How's a' wi' the bairns?"
"Are ye no frighted, Marion, to speer sic a question, when ye think how ye left them, and what for ye did sae?"
"Am na I their mither, have na I a right to speer?"
"No," said Elspa; "when ye forgot that ye were their father's wife, they lost their mother."