And he told her, not speaking lightly, but because his words contained a solemn warning to a girl who, he thought, might need it.
"What sort of thing would be likeliest to waken the wickedness ?" she asked, holding her breath for the answer.
"Keeping company wi' ill men," said Blinder, gravely.
"Like the man who made mamma wicked, like my father ?" "Ay," Blinder replied, "fly from the like of him, my lass, though it should be to the other end of the world." She stood quite still, with a most sorrowful face, and then ran away, ran so swiftly that when Tommy, who had lingered for a moment, came to the door she was already out of sight.

Scarcely less excited than she, he set off for Double Dykes, his imagination in such a blaze that he looked fearfully in the pools of the burn for a black frock.

But Grizel had not drowned herself; she was standing erect in her home, like one at bay, her arms rigid, her hands clenched, and when he pushed open the door she screamed.
"Grizel," said the distressed boy, "did you think I was him come for you ?" "Yes!" "Maybe he'll no come.

The folk think he winna come." "But if he does, if he does!" "Maybe you needna go wi' him unless you're willing ?" "I must, he can compel me, because he is my father.

Oh! oh! oh!" She lay down on the bed, and on her eyes there slowly formed the little wells of water Tommy was to know so well in time.