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"What can be more dreadful to a parent than to see a son, setting out in life, with such dispositions? What can be expected of one who is capable of such undutiful behaviour?"
"To be sure," said the goodwife, "the lad's unco willfu'. There's nae gude in hindering him, for he maun ay tak his ain gait. But a' lads are just the same, and the gudeman shoud na be sae hard on him, seeing he's yet but young."
"Mistress!" hollowed the voice of Grizzel from the house; "I wish ye wad come and speak to Meg. She winna be hinderit putting her fingers in the kirn, and licking the cream."
"If I were at you," cried Mrs MacClarty, "I'd gar you"
She was as good as her word; and in order to show Mrs Mason the good effect of her advice, she ran that moment into the kitchen, and gave her daughter a hearty slap upon the back. The girl went a few steps further off, and deliberately ap-
