"Please, sir," said Ellen, "Mr. Macdonald's a nice man."
I did not want to discuss Macdonald with my bairns, and I sketched in
silence. I think they forgot all about my presence after that; in the
old days they used to talk to each other as if I weren't there. Once
they discussed likely sweethearts in the village for me, and I am sure
they forgot that I was there.
"He's nice to the lassies, Ellen," said Jean, "but not to the boys."
"What did he strap Jim Jackson for?" asked Ellen.
"Aw dinna ken," said Janet, "but he was needin' the strap. Jim Jackson's
a cheeky wee thing."
"Eh!" said Jean, "haven't we to sit awful quiet, Jan?"
"Weel," said Janet nodding her head sagely, "and so ye shud sit quiet in
the schule. Ye'll no be learning yer lessons if ye speak."