"
And so saying he seated her on the shavings, and half-buried her with
an armful more to keep her warm.
"Put to the door, Willie," he added. "She'll be cauld. She's no
workin', ye see."
Whereupon Willie shut the door, and Annie found herself very
comfortable indeed. There she sat, in perfect contentment, watching the
progress of the boat--a progress not very perceptible to her
inexperienced eyes, for the building of a boat is like the building of
a city or the making of a book: it turns out a boat at last. But after
she had sat for a good while in silence, she looked up at Alec, and
said:
"Is there naething I can do to help ye, Alec?"
"Naething, Annie. Lassies canna saw or plane, ye ken. Ye wad tak' aff
yer ain lugs in a jiffey."
Again she was silent for a long time; and then, with a sigh, she looked
up and said:
"Alec, I'm so cauld!"
"I'll bring my plaid to row ye in the morn's nicht."
Annie's heart bounded for joy; for here was what amounted to an express
invitation for to-morrow.
"But," Alec went on, "come wi' me, and we'll sune get ye warm again.
Gie's yer han'."
Annie gave Alec her hand; and he lifted her out of her heap of spales,
and led her away.
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