“Was that a’?” said Dan.
“A’—a’—a’, Dan, was’t no’ plenty? It made me a’ grue [shiver] to see her munchin’ them. I couldna touch her; I canna even bring mysel’ to sell her, for naebody that kent (and I couldna but tell) wad eat her either.”
“What for no’?” said Dan, “she’s neither ony the waur nor ony the better o’t. If ye’ll gi’e me a gude luckpenny, I’ll sell her for ye.”
David was glad to get the pig out of his premises. Dan got a little profit by the transaction, and thus both were pleased.
Bell’s “kirkin’” was a quiet affair. David and she started early, and were seated before many folks had come in to the church. The second volume of Mr. Barrie’s presentation Bible was carried thither by Bell in a clean white handkerchief and used for the day. In her other hand she had a few sprigs of balm and southernwood, which she moved backwards and forwards at her nose until they were withered, and limp, and double.
They dined at Knowe Park. Bell looked vexed when Mrs. Barrie said, “You know the spare bedroom, Bell; put off your bonnet and shawl in it, and I daresay you’ll remember the way to the parlour.”
“Mrs. Barrie,” said Bell, “oh, dinna make a stranger o’ me. Best bedroom!—me gang till the best bedroom? No, no, I’ll gang to my auld room,”—which she did; and she was heartily welcomed by Jenny, her successor, who proved to be a revised, I dare not say an improved, edition of Bell.
A’ BODY’S BODY.
Blackbrae soon bore evidences of Bell’s presence. The window-panes were “glancin’ clean,” David said; “the house was lichtsomer an’ sweeter.” The part of the “close” before the front door was railed off and converted into a kitchen garden, and the Knowe Park family, especially Mary and Gordie, spent several happy afternoons at Bell’s house.
Many others enjoyed the homely hospitality of Blackbrae. Dr. Stevenson, one of the hardest wrought members of the hardest wrought class of men in Scotland, namely, the country surgeons, often took pot-luck there, and he never had to ask for a “cinder,” although at the same time he was very sparing in his use of Bell’s bottle. But he found her so well provided with many things, little in themselves, but invaluable to poor invalids, that he made her his “Lady Bountiful,” and found her always not only ready and willing, but, as Mr. Barrie expressed it, “pre-eminently judeecious.”