Most women of her station wore only a _mutch_ or close cap, but Tibbie wore a bonnet with a brilliantly gay ribbon, so fond was she of bright colours, although she had nothing but the testimony of others, vague enough ere it succeeded in crossing the dark distances of her brain, as to the effect of those even with which she adorned her own person.

Her room was very bare, but as clean as it was possible for room to be.

Her bed was in the wall which divided it from the rest of the house, and this one room was her whole habitation.
The other half of the cottage was occupied by an old cripple, nearly bedridden, to whose many necessities Tibbie used to minister.

The eyes of the one and the legs of the other worked in tolerable harmony; and if they had a quarrel now and then, it was no greater than gave a zest to their intercourse.

These particulars, however, Annie did not learn till afterwards.
She looked all about the room, and seeing no sign of any dinner for Tibbie, was reminded thereby that her own chance had considerably diminished.
"I maun awa hame," she said with a sigh.
"Ay, lassie; they'll be bidin' their denner for ye." "Na, nae fear o' that," answered Annie, adding with another little sigh, "I doot there winna be muckle o' the broth to the fore or I win hame." "Weel jist bide, bairn, an' tak' a cup o' tay wi' me.