"I'm doubting Gavinia's reading ill books on the sly," he said.
"Never!" exclaimed Miss Ailie, "she reads nothing but the _Mentor_." Tommy shook his head, like one who would fain hope so, but could not overlook facts.

"I've been hearing," he said, "that she reads books as are full o' Strokes and Words We have no Concern with." Miss Ailie could not believe it, but she was advised to search the kitchen, and under Gavinia's mattress was found the dreadful work.
"And you are only fifteen!" said Miss Ailie, eying her little maid sorrowfully.
"The easier to carry," replied Gavinia, darkly.
"And you named after a minister!" Miss Ailie continued, for her maid had been christened Gavinia because she was the first child baptized in his church after the Rev.Gavin Dishart came to Thrums.

"Gavinia, I must tell him of this.

I shall take this book to Mr.Dishart this very day." "The right man to take it to," replied the maid, sullenly, "for it's his ain." "Gavinia!" "Well, it was Mrs.Dishart that lended it to me." "I--I never saw it on the manse shelves." "I'm thinking," said the brazen Gavinia, "as there's hoddy corners in manses as well as in--blue-and-white rooms." This dark suggestion was as great a shock to the gentle school-mistress as if out of a clear sky had come suddenly the word-- _Stroke!_ She tottered with the book that had so demoralized the once meek Gavinia into the blue-and-white room, where Tommy was restlessly awaiting her, and when she had told him all, he said, with downcast eyes: "I was never sure o' Mrs.Dishart.When I hand her the _Mentor_ she looks as if she didna care a stroke for't--" "Tommy!" "I'm doubting," he said sadly, "that she's ower fond o' Words We have no Concern with." Miss Ailie would not listen to such talk, but she approved of the suggestion that "Waverley" should be returned not to the minister, but to his wife, and she accepted gratefully Tommy's kindly offer to act as bearer.

Only happening to open the book in the middle, she-- "I'm waiting," said Tommy, after ten minutes.
She did not hear him.
"I'm waiting," he said again, but she was now in the next chapter.
"Maybe you would like to read it yoursel'!" he cried, and then she came to, and, with a shudder handed him the book.