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Updated: July 20, 2025
"Well, my dear, what do you want?" "It's aboot Alec, mem," said Isie, glancing towards Annie. "Well, what about him?" asked Mrs Forbes, considerably bewildered, but not fearing bad news from the mouth of such a messenger. "Hae ye heard naething aboot him, mem?" "Nothing particular. I haven't heard from him for a fortnight." "That's easy accoontit for, mem." "What do you mean, my dear? Speak out."
But there was just one not so easily satisfied about the extent of her duties: that was little Isie Constable. The tertians gave a supper at Luckie Cumstie's, and invited the magistrands. On such an occasion Beauchamp, with his high sense of his own social qualities, would not willingly be absent. When the hour arrived, he took his place near the head of the table.
Ye cudna get a glimp o' her ower the edge o' the snaw i' the cuttin' doon to the yett. Hoo her fowk cud lat her oot! She's a puir wee white-faced elf o' a crater, but she's byous auld-farrand and wise-like, and naething will do but she maun see yersel', mem." "Bring her up, Mary. Poor little thing! What can she want?" Presently Isie entered the room, looking timidly about her.
But they hae ta'en him intil a dreidfu' place, and whether they hae left a haill inch o' skin upon's body, is mair nor I can tell; but they hae rackit him, and pu'd o' 's nails aff, maybe them a', and�-" "Good heavens!" exclaimed Mrs Forbes, with a most unusual inclination to hysterics, seeing something terrible peep from behind the grotesque report of Isie, "what do you mean, child?"
A great hand is sometimes laid even on the fly-wheel of life's engine. Andrew Constable, with his wife and old-fashioned child Isie, was seated at tea in the little parlour opening from the shop, when he was called out by a customer. He remained longer than was likely to be accounted for by the transaction of business at that time of the day. And when he returned his honest face looked troubled.
They say they're women; but I dinna believe that. It's no possible. They maun be men dressed up in women's claes." Was it a great relief to the mother's heart to find that the childish understanding of Isie had misinterpreted and misrepresented? She rose and left the room, and her troubled step went to and fro overhead. And the spirit of Annie was troubled likewise.
Isie hung down her head, and began to have dim perceptions that she might have been doing mischief with the best possible intentions. "I only tell't Mistress Forbes hoo ill they war to Alec." After a moment's reflection, Mrs Constable turned with a subdued manner to Mrs Forbes. "The bairn's a curious bairn, mem," she said.
And if she must not meddle for that, seeing her father had said the matter must not be mentioned, yet his prohibition could not include Alec's mother, whom it would be wicked to keep in ignorance. For what would Isie think if she was taken prisoner by a cruel woman and they would not tell her mother?
All the night during which Isie Constable lay dreaming of racks, pincers, screws, and Alec Forbes, the snow was busy falling outside, shrouding the world once more; so that next day the child could not get out upon any pretence.
"That's richt, mem," said Isie. "The suner the better, I'm sure. He mayna be deid yet." "What a very odd child!" said Mrs Forbes. "Wouldn't it be better to write first, ma'am?" suggested Annie. Before Mrs Forbes could reply, the white mutch of Mrs Constable appeared over the top of the snow that walled the path. She was in hot pursuit of her child, whose footsteps she had traced.
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