'Have you got none of them?' she said, as we came up the steps.
'Nothing but a child,' said my grandfather sadly. 'Only one small child,
that's all. Well, we did our very best, Jem, my lad.'
Jem was following my grandfather, with the oars over his shoulder. I
came last, with that little bundle in my arms.
The child had stopped crying now, and seemed to be asleep, it was so
still. Mrs. Millar wanted to take it from me, and to undo the blanket,
but my grandfather said 'Bide your time, Mary; bring the child into the
house, my lass; it's bitter cold out here.'
So we all went up through the field, and through our garden and the
court. The blanket was tightly fastened round the child, except at the
top, where room had been left for it to breathe, and I could just see a
little nose and two closed eyes, as I peeped in at the opening.
The bundle was a good weight, and before I reached the house I was glad
of Mrs. Millar's help to carry it. We came into our little kitchen, and
Mrs. Millar took the child on her knee and unfastened the blanket.
'Bless her,' she said, as her tears fell fast, 'it's a little girl!'
'Ay,' said my grandfather, 'so it is; it's a bonnie wee lassie!'
CHAPTER IV.
LITTLE TIMPEY.
I do not think I have ever seen a prettier face than that child's.
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