that there's one ower many," added she
quickly; "and they're no' ill bairns."

"You have your ain troubles among them, I dare say, and are muckle to be
pitied--"

"Me to be pitied!" said Janet scornfully, "there's no fear o' me. But
what can the like o' me do? For ye ken, woman, though the minister is a
powerful preacher, and grand on points o' doctrine, he's a verra bairn
about some things. _She_ aye keepit the siller, and far did she make it
gang--having something to lay by at the year's end as well. Now, if we
make the twa ends meet, it's mair than I expect."

"But Miss Graeme ought to have some sense about these things. Surely
she takes heed to the bairns?"

"Miss Graeme's but a bairn herself, with little thought and less
experience; and its no' to be supposed that the rest will take heed to
her. The little anes are no' so ill to do with; but these twa laddies
are just spirits o' mischief, for as quiet as Norman looks; and they
come home from the school with torn clothes, till Miss Graeme is just
dazed with mending at them. And Miss Marian is near as ill as the
laddies; and poor, wee Rosie, growing langer and thinner every day, till
you would think the wind would blow her awa. Master Arthur is awa at
his eddication: the best thing for a' concerned. I wish they were a'
safe unto man's estate," and Janet sighed.

"And is Miss Graeme good at her seam?" asked Mistress Elspat.

"Oh ay; she's no' that ill. She's better at her sampler and at the
flowering than at mending torn jackets, however. But there's no fear
but she would get skill at that, and at other things, if she would but
hae patience with herself. Miss Graeme is none of the common kind."

"And has there been no word from _her_ friends since? They say her
brother has no bairns of his own. He might well do something for hers."

Janet shook her head.

"The minister doesna think that I ken; but when Mr Ross was here at the
burial, he offered to take two of the bairns, Norman or Harry, and wee
Marian. She's likest her mamma. But such a thing wasna to be thought
of; and he went awa' no' weel pleased. Whether he'll do onything for
them in ony ither way is more than I ken. He might keep Master Arthur
at the college and no' miss it. How the minister is ever to school the
rest o' them is no' easy to be seen, unless he should go to America
after all."

Mistress Smith lifted her hands.

"He'll never surely think o' taking these motherless b