Onybody can see it in his e'e when he speaks aboot her.'

'I ken that; but it's nae use,' said Teen, 'she's gaun to mairry
somebody else.'

'Is she? D'ye ken wha?'

'Ay; your auld flame,' said Teen, apparently at random, but all the
while keenly watching her companion's face. She saw Liz become as pale
as death, though she smiled a sickly smile, and tried to speak as
indifferently as possible.

'Ye dinna mean it? Weel, I'd hae thocht she wad hae waled better. Hoo
sune are we gaun the morn?'

She asked the question with eagerness, and from that moment the little
seamstress observed that her whole manner changed. She suddenly began to
display a new and absorbing interest in the preparations for their
departure, and plied Teen with questions regarding the place and her
former experiences there. The little seamstress, being a person of a
remarkably shrewd and observant turn, saw in this awakened interest only
another link in the chain which now appeared to her almost complete. Her
former elation over their trip to Bourhill gave place to a painful
anxiety lest it should hasten events to a crisis in which the happiness
of Gladys might be sadly involved; but it was now too late to help
matters, and, with a bit of philosophical calmness, she said within
herself, 'What is to be maun be,' and went on with her preparations for
the morrow's journey.

They set out, accordingly, about noon next day, carrying their
belongings in the inevitable tin box, and arrived at Mauchline Station
quite early in the afternoon--a lovely afternoon, when all the spring
airs were about, and a voice of gladness over the spring's promise in
the note of every bird singing on the bending boughs. With what keenness
of interest did the little seamstress watch the effect of country sights
and sounds upon Liz, and how it pleased her to see the slow wonder
gather in her eyes as they wandered across the wide landscape over the
rich breadths of the ploughed fields, in which the sowers were busy, to
the sheltering woods glistening greenly in the sun, and the blue hills
in the hazy distance seeming to shut in the world. It was her pride and
pleasure to point out to her companion, as they walked, each familiar
and cherished landmark, and though Liz did not say much, it was evident
that she was in a manner lifted out of herself. The pure, fragrant air
blowing about her, the wide and wonderful beauty of green fields and
sunny slopes, filled the soul of Liz wi