"
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 she's owerheard her
father and me speakin' thegither as gin't had been only ae body
thinkin'. For gin ever twa was ane, that twa and that ane is Andrew
Constable and mysel'."
"But what right had you to talk about my son?"
"Weel, mem, that queston gangs raither far. What's already procleemed
frae the hoose-taps may surely be spoken i' the ear in closets-???for oor
back-room is but a closet. Gin ye think that fowk'll haud their tongues
about your bairn mair nor ony ither body's bairn ye're mista'en, mem.
But never ane heard o' 't frae me, and I can tak' my bodily aith for my
man, for he's jist by ordinar' for haudin' his tongue. I cud hardly
worm it oot o' 'm mysel'."
Mrs Forbes saw that she had been too hasty.
"What does it all mean, Mrs Constable?" she said, "for I am quite
ignorant."
"Ye may weel be that, mem. And maybe there's no a word o' trouth i' the
story, for I'm doobtin' the win' that brocht it blew frae an ill airt."
"I really don't understand you, Mrs Constable. What do they say about
him?"
"Ow, jist that he's consortin' wi' the warst o' ill company, mem.
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