“Ye see the only ill thing about it is, that it’s no our ain.—George was uncommon keen to have had the house the bairns were a’ born in. He’s an awfu’ man for his bairns.”
“Very natural,” said Anne.
“Oh, ay, nae doubt it’s natural, but it’s no ilka body that has the thought; he wad have gien twa hunder pounds for the house; twa clear hunder—it’s no worth that siller, ye ken, but it’s just because we’ve been in’t sae lang. But Miss Lillie wadna hear o’t; it’s no every day she could get an offer like that, and they canna be sae weel off as to throw away twa hunder pounds, ane would think.”
“Is this Miss Lillie’s house?” said Anne.
“Ay—ye’ll ken Miss Lillie it’s like?”
“No,” said Anne, “I do not know her, but I have heard her name.”
“There’s bits of conveniences a’ through it,” said Mrs. Brock, “that had been putten up when they were bideing here themsels; and the garden behint. Miss Lillie beggit George to keep the flowers right, and he takes uncommon pains with them. He’s a guid-hearted man, our George; ye’ll no often meet wi’ the like of him.”
“And that house of Redheugh,” said Anne; “why is it so neglected and desolate?”
“Eh, bless me!” said Mrs. Brock, “have ye no heard the story?”
“What story?” said Anne.