Kirsty saw their shadows darken the wall, and turning from her work at the dresser, ran to the door to meet them.

 

‘God be thankit!’ cried David.

 

Marion gave her daughter one loving look, and entering cast a fearful, questioning glance around the kitchen.

 

‘Whaur’s Steenie?’ she said.

 

‘He’s wi’ Phemy, I’m thinkin,’ faltered² Kirsty.

 

‘Lassie, are ye dementit?’ her mother almost screamed. ‘We’re this minute come frae there!’

 

‘He is wi’ Phemy, mother. The Lord canna surely hae pairtit them, gangin in maist haudin han’s!’

 

‘Kirsty, I haud ye accoontable for my Steenie!’ cried Marion, sinking on a chair, and covering her face with her hands.

 

‘It’s the wull o’ God ’at’s accoontable for him, wuman!’ answered David, sitting down beside her, and laying hold of her arm.

 

She burst into terrible weeping.

 

‘He maun be sair at hame wi’ the bonny man!’ said Kirsty.

 

‘Lassie,’ said David, ‘you and me and yer mither, we hae naething left but be better bairns, and gang the fester to the bonny man!—Whaur’s what’s left o’ the laddie, Kirsty?’

 

‘Lyin i’ my hoose, as he ca’d it. Mine was i’ the yerd, his i’ the air, he said. He was awa afore I wan³ to the kitchen. He had jist killt himsel savin at Phemy, rinnin and fechtin on, upo’ the barest chance o’ savin her life; and sae whan he set off again to gang til her, no bidin for me, he was that forfouchten ’at he hed a bluid-brak in ’s breist, and was jist able, and nae mair, to creep intil the weem oot o’ the snaw. He didna like the place, and yet had a kin’ o’ a notion o’ the bonny man bein there whiles. I’m thinkin Snootie maun hae won til him, and run hame for help, for I faund him maist deid upo’ the door-step.’

 

David stooped and patted the dog.

 

‘Na, that cudna be,’ he said, ‘or he wud never hae left him, I’m thinkin.—Ye’re a braw dog,’ he went on to the collie, ‘and I’m thankfu’ yer no lyin wi yer tongue oot!—But guid comes to guid doggies!’ he added, fondling the creature, who had risen, and feebly set his paws on his knees.

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