Then the corners of her prim mouth moved upwards in a slow smile.
"I see," she said.

"Weel, maybe it was weel done.

But if ye're my nevoy ye'll hae to keep up my credit, for we're a bauld and siccar lot." Half an hour later there was a furious dissension when Dickson attempted to pay for the night's entertainment.

Mrs.Morran would have none of it.

"Ye're no' awa' yet," she said tartly, and the matter was complicated by Heritage's refusal to take part in the debate.