So, turning to the maid, she said-- "Have you told Mr Bruce that Miss Anderson is here ?" "Me tell him! No, mem.

What's _his_ business ?" "Mary, you forget yourself." "Weel, mem, I canna bide him." "Hold your tongue, Mary," said her mistress, hardly able to restrain her own amusement, "and take the child into my room till he is gone.
But perhaps he knows you are here, Annie ?" "He canna ken that, mem.

He jumps at things whiles, though, sharp eneuch." "Well, well! We shall see." So Mary led Annie away to the sanctuary of Mrs Forbes's bed-room.
But the Bruce was not upon Annie's track at all.

His visit wants a few words of explanation.
Bruce's father had been a faithful servant to Mr Forbes's father, who held the same farm before his son, both having been what are called gentlemen-farmers.

The younger Bruce, being anxious to set up a shop, had, for his father's sake, been assisted with money by the elder Forbes.