They had their heads close together over a slate, upon which now the one, now the other, seemed to be drawing.

This went on and on, and they never looked up.

Ginny would have gone home, and come again in the afternoon, but Nicie instantly called Donal.
He sprang to his feet and came to them, followed by Gibbie.

Donal crossed the burn, but Gibbie remained on the other side, and when presently Donal took his "buik o' ballants" from his pocket, and the little company seated themselves, stood with his back to them, and his eyes on the nowt.

That morning they were not interrupted.
Donal read to them for a whole hour, concerning which reading, and Ginevra's reception of it, Nicie declared she could not see what for they made sic a wark aboot a wheen auld ballants, ane efter anither.--"They're no half sae bonnie as the paraphrases, Donal," she said.
After this, Ginevra went frequently with Nicie to see her mother, and learned much of the best from her.