The
Grand Leddy found a great deal there to interest her beside Bobby
and the robin that chirped and picked up crumbs between the little
dog's paws. Presently the gate was opened again and' a housemaid
from some mansion in George Square came around the kirk. Trained by
Mistress Jeanie, she was a neat and pretty and pleasant-mannered
housemaid, in a black gown and white apron, and with a frilled cap
on her crinkly, gold-brown hair that had had more than "a lick or
twa the nicht afore."
"It's juist Ailie," Bobby seemed to say, as he stood a moment with
crested neck and tail. "Ilka body kens Ailie."
The servant lassie, with an hour out, had stopped to speak to
Bobby. She had not meant to stay long, but the lady, who didn't
look in the least grand, began to think friendly things aloud.
"The windows of the tenements are very clean."
"Ay. The bairnies couldna see Bobby gin the windows warna washed."
The lassie was pulling her adored little pet's ears, and Bobby was
nuzzling up to her.
"In many of the windows there is a box of flowers, or of kitchen
herbs to make the broth savory."
"It wasna so i' the auld days. It was aye washin's clappin' aboon
the stanes. Noo, mony o' the mithers hang the claes oot at nicht.
Ilka thing is changed sin' I was a wean an' leevin' i' the auld
Guildhall, the bairnies haen Bobby to lo'e, an' no' to be
neglectet." She continued the conversation to include Tammy as he
came around the kirk on his tapping crutches.
Pages:
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237