She had known James Anderson, her father, and he had been her guest more than once when he had called upon business.

Everybody had liked him; and this general approbation was owing to no lack of character, but to his genuine kindness of heart.

So Mrs Forbes was prejudiced in Annie's favour--but far more by her own recollections of the father, than by her son's representations of the daughter.
"Tell her to come up, Mary," she said.
So Annie, with all the disorganization of school about her, was shown, considerably to her discomfort, into Mrs Forbes's dining-room.
There was nothing remarkable in the room; but to Annie's eyes it seemed magnificent, for carpet and curtains, sideboard and sofa, were luxuries altogether strange to her eyes.

So she entered very timidly, and stood trembling and pale--for she rarely blushed except when angry--close to the door.

But Alec scrambled from the sofa, and taking hold of her by both hands, pulled her up to his mother.
"There she is, mamma!" he said.
And Mrs Forbes, although her sense of the fitness of things was not gratified at seeing her son treat with such familiarity a girl so neglectedly attired, yet received her kindly and shook hands with her.
"How do you do, Annie ?" she said.
"Quite well, I thank ye, mem," answered Annie, showing in her voice that she was owerawed by the grand lady, yet mistress enough of her manners not to forget a pretty modest courtesy as she spoke.
"What's gaein' on at the school the day, Annie ?" asked Alec.
"Naething by ordidar," answered Annie, the sweetness of her tones contrasting with the roughness of the dialect.