I see I maun seek her mysel'.
Ye're aidin' an' abettin' as usual." So saying, Auntie Meg went out to look for her niece.

It was some time before the natural order of her search brought her at last to the _byre_.

By that time Annie was almost asleep in the grass, which the cow was gradually pulling away from under her.

Through the open door the child could see the sunlight lying heavy upon the hot stones that paved the yard; but in here it was so dark-shadowy and cool, and the cow was such good, kindly company, and she was so safe hidden from auntie, as she thought--for no one had ever found her there before, and she knew Betty would not tell--that, as I say, she was nearly asleep with comfort, half-buried in Brownie's dinner.
But she was roused all at once to a sense of exposure and insecurity.
She looked up, and at the same moment the hawk-nose of her aunt came round the _door-cheek_.

Auntie's temper was none the better than usual that it had pleased the _Almichty_ to take the brother whom she loved, and to leave behind the child whom she regarded as a painful responsibility.