human
Oh, ay! he's looking not so ill, said she, one day, while she stood with Lilias at the gate, watching Archie, as he dug in the little garden;
gpt
Archie's like my father.
human
You needna be feared that I'll speak that name loud enough for her to hear, said Nancy, answering Lilias' look rather than her words.
gpt
I have more respect for her than that. Poor body! she must carry a sore heart about with her, for all she looks so quiet and contented like.
human
Did my cousin Hugh do anything so very bad?
gpt
I dare say the folk that blame him most have done far worse things than anything they can lay to his charge, said Nancy;
human
But Donald Ross, up among the hills, told Archie that folk thought he had 'listed for a soldier, and that he couldna come back again.
gpt
Well, maybe not, said Nancy.
human
Far be it from me to seek to make worse what is bad enough already. It's not unlikely. But, as I was saying, Archie's growing awfu' like him, and it is to be hoped he will not take to ill ways. You should have an eye upon him, Lilias, my woman, that he doesn't take up with folk that `call evil good, and good evil.' It was that was the ruin of Hugh Blair,--poor laddie!
gpt
Archie sees no one among the hills that can do him harm, said Lilias, hastily,--
human
Eh, woman! I didn't mean to anger you, exclaimed Nancy.
gpt
I declare, your eyes are glancing like two coals. But, if your aunt is wise, she'll put him to some kind of work before long. Laddies like him must ay be about something; and if they are doing no good it's likely they'll be doing evil. Your aunt should know that well enough, without the like of me to tell her.
human
But Archie is such a mere child, remonstrated Lilias, forgetting for the moment that it was Mrs Stirling, the grumbler for the countryside, that was speaking.
gpt
What ill can he get among the hills? And, besides, what work could he do? It's health for him to wander about among the hills. It makes him strong.
human
You're a child yourself for that matter, said Nancy;