“I don’t say that I have any cause to complain of my prosperity here; but, you see, Tam is wild to learn the engineering, and he wants to go to Edinburgh, where he thinks he will learn it best; and I don’t like to let him go by himsel’, for though he is no a bad laddie, he is the better of a home and a head to it, and I would like to keep my eye on him.  Grandfather makes no objections, and the bairns are all keen for Edinburgh, so I am going to flit next week.  As for leaving this place, I am sure I have been growled at quite enough about coming from Australia and taking work away from my old neighbours, so I will try my luck where I don’t know who I am taking custom from.  I’ve been in and got a house and a mangle in a nice quiet part of the town, no owre far from Tam’s place where he is going to work, and a healthy bit it looks, too.”

“Peggy, I wish I had your confidence and your reason for confidence.  I, too, want to go to Edinburgh to try my luck there; but though my uncle spent quite a fortune on my education, and though I did my best to profit by it, I really can see no way of making my living.”

“Hout tout,” said Peggy, “no fear of you making a living, you could do that as well as me; but it is more than a living for yourself you are wanting; you are thinking of Miss Elsie, poor bit lassie, and would fain work for two.  I mind well when my sister left the bairns to my care with her dying breath, I felt my heart owre grit.  It was more than I, a single woman, with but seven pounds by the year of wages, could hope to do, to keep the bit creatures; but yet it was borne on my mind that I was to do it, and God be praised that He has given me the strength and the opportunity, and it is little burden they have been to any other body; and in due time, when they have got learning enough, and are come the length to get the passage, I will take them back with me to Melbourne, where their prospects will be better than in the old country.”

“Oh, Peggy! would Australia suit us?  Would you advise us to go there?”

“No, Miss Melville, I scarcely think so.  For the like of me it is the best place in the world; for the like of you I cannot be at all clear about it.  I’ll tell you my story some day, but not now, for I am pressed for time, getting everything in readiness for the flitting; and I want time to collect my thoughts; my memory is none of the best.  But, Miss Melville, if I am not making too free, I have a little room in my new house that I would be blithe to let you and Miss Elsie have, and you could stay there quietly till something turns up for you.”

“If we can afford the rent.”

“Oh, the rent!” said Peggy; “you need not think about the rent, if you could only give the lasses a lesson in sewing (for I’m no very skilful with the needle, and my hands are so rough with the washing and dressing that the thread aye hanks on my fingers), and make out my washing bills for my Customers that are not so methodical as yourself.  As for writing and counting, it is my abomination.  There need no rent pass between us.”