'I ken o' naething, mem.'
'Widow Tirpie's girl has come home again I hear, and looks poorly.' Joseph started slightly, and glanced suspiciously under his eyelids, but he answered impassively enough.
'I heard sae, mem, but I haena seen her mysel.'
'And is nobody's name associated in the village with that?' Joseph, in his discomposure, missed his hammer stroke, and gave himself a severe rap on the thumb, which with a gulp he transferred to his mouth.
'I'm no sure 'at I guess what ye're drivin' at, mem.'
'And about her child?' continued Mrs. Sangster, still intent on learning something.
'I ne'er heard tell that she had ane,' said Joseph, waxing more and more uneasy.
'Do the people ever remark a likeness between her and the baby Miss Brown has adopted, for instance?'
Joseph turned round and looked Mrs. Sangster in the face; he felt relieved he was safe, but he was also astonished.
'I hae na heard ony body speakin' that gate; an' gin I micht mak sae free, mem, do you see ony yersel?'