Mr Cowie was greatly distressed.

He drew her between his knees, laid his cheek against hers, as was his way with children, and said with soothing tenderness: "Walawa! what's the matter with my dawtie ?" After some vain attempts at speech, Annie succeeded in giving the following account of the matter, much interrupted with sobs and fresh outbursts of weeping.
"Ye see, sir, I gaed last nicht to the missionar kirk to hear Mr Broon.
And he preached a gran' sermon, sir.

But I haena been able to bide mysel' sin' syne.

For I doobt I'm ane o' the wicked 'at God hates, and I'll never win' to haven at a', for I canna help forgettin' him whiles.
An' the wicked'll be turned into hell, and a' the nations that forget God.

That was his text, sir.