not later than to-morrow
night, and if anything should prevent me getting down then, there is
Miss Peck, Teen, who, you know, will make you very welcome.'

'Yes, I ken,' nodded Teen. 'If ye only kent what like a place it is,
Liz, ye wad be jumpin'.'

'I'm sure I dinna ken what way ye want me doon there,' said Liz,
relapsing into her weary, indifferent manner. 'I canna understand it.'

'Can't you?' asked Gladys merrily. 'Well, I want you, that's all. I want
to have the pleasure of seeing you grow strong and well again. Nobody
shall meddle with you. You shall do just as you like, and you two will
be companions to each other.'

Teen looked reproachfully at her friend, wondering to see her so
undemonstrative, never even uttering a single word of thanks for the
kindness so freely offered. She shook hands with Gladys in silence, and
allowed her to depart without further remark.

'You'll make sure that she comes down, Teen?' said Gladys, when they
were outside the door. 'Poor thing, she looks dreadfully ill and
unhappy. Where _do_ you think she has been?'

Teen mournfully shook her head, and her large eyes filled with tears.

'I'll no' let her away,' she answered firmly. 'If she'll no' come doon
to Bourhill, I'll see that she disna gang onywhere else withoot me.'

'You are a faithful friend,' said Gladys quickly. 'Has she--has she seen
her brother?'

Teen wondered somewhat at the hesitation with which the question was
asked.

'Ay; he was here yesterday.'

'And what did he say, Teen? Oh, I hope he was very gentle with her.'

'I wasna in a' the time, but I'm sure that kinder he couldna hae been.
He wanted her to gang to Colquhoun Street an' bide, but she wadna.'

'Well, I hope she will come to Bourhill, and I think she will.
Good-bye.'

'Weel, hae ye gotten me weel discussed?' queried Liz sarcastically, when
the little seamstress returned to the kitchen. 'I canna understand that
lassie by onybody.'

'Nor I a'thegither, but I ken she's guid,' she answered simply. 'Ye will
gang to Bourhill, Liz?'

'Maybe; I'll see. I say, do ye ken wha she's gaun to mairry?'

'I have an inklin',' replied Teen, and said no more, though her face
became yet more gravely troubled.

'Liz,' she said suddenly, 'will ye tell me wan thing afore we gang doon
to Bourhill, if we gang?'

'What is't?'

'Had Fordyce onything to dae wi' you gaun awa' when you did?'

'Mind yer ain business,' replied Liz, with the utmost calmness, not ev