And the sound of her retreating footsteps, though managed with all possible care, immediately justified his suspicion.

This interruption turned Annie's tears aside, and when Thomas spoke next, she was able to reply.
"Noo, my bairn," he said, "what's the maitter ?" "I was at the missionar kirk last nicht," faltered Annie.
"Ay! And the sermon took a grip o' ye ?--Nae doot, nae doot.Ay.

Ay." "I canna help forgettin' _him_, Thomas." "But ye maun try and no forget him, lassie." "Sae I do.

But it's dour wark, and 'maist impossible." "Sae it maun aye be; to the auld Aidam impossible; to the young Christian a weary watch." Hope began to dawn upon Annie.
"A body micht hae a chance," she asked with meditative suggestion, "allooin' 'at she did forget him whiles ?" "Nae doot, lassie.

The nations that forget God are them that dinna care, that never fash their heids, or their herts aither, aboot him--them that were never called, never chosen." Annie's trouble returned like a sea-wave that had only retired to gather strength.
"But hoo's a body to ken whether she _be_ ane o' the elec' ?" she said, quaking.
"That's a hard maitter.