Contains a Birth 249

on the Sabbath day! Lassie, how could you
propose sic a thing?”

“Forgive me, Nanny,’ Babbie replied, so
meekly that the old woman looked at her curi-
ously.

“J dinna understand what has come ower you,”
she said. ‘“There’s an unca difference in you
since last nicht. I used to think you were mair
like a bird than a lassie, but you’ve lost a’ your
daft capers o’ singing and lauching, and I take
ill wit. Twa or three times I’ve catched you
greeting. Babbie, what has come ower you?”

“ Nothing, Nanny. I think I hear the bell.”

Down in Thrums two kirk officers had let
their bells loose, waking echoes in Windyghoul
as one dog in country parts sets all the others
barking, but Nanny did not hurry off to church.
Such a surprising notion had filled her head sud-
denly that she even forgot to hold her dress off
the floor.

“‘ Babbie,” she cried, in consternation, “ dinna
tell me you’ve gotten ower fond o’ Mr. Dishart.”

“The like of me, Nanny!” the gypsy an-
swered, with affected raillery, but there was a
tear in her eye.

“Tt would be a wild, presumptious thing,”
Nanny said, “and him a grand minister, but —”’

Babbie tried to look her in the face, but failed,
and then all at once there came back to Nanny
the days when she and her lover wandered the
hill together.

“Ah, my dawtie,” she cried, so_ tenderly,
“what does it matter wha he is when you canna

help it!”