"My Jamie! my ain bairn!" she cried, seizing him to her bosom with a grasp
that, trembling, yet seemed to cling to him desperately, and a look almost
of defiance, as if she dared the world to take him from her again. "O my
God!" she cried, in an agony of thankfulness, "I ken ye noo! I ken ye noo!
Never mair wull I doobt ye, my God!--Lost and found!--Lost for a wee, and
found again for ever!"
Then she caught sight of Maggie, who had entered behind her father, and
stood staring at her motionless,--with a look of gladness indeed, but not
all of gladness.
"I ken fine," Isy broke out, with a trembling, yet eager, apologetic voice,
"ye're grudgin me ilka luik at him! I ken't by mysel! Ye're thinkin him
mair yours nor mine! And weel ye may, for it's you that's been motherin him
ever since I lost my wits! It's true I ran awa' and left him; but ever sin'
syne, I hae soucht him carefully wi' tears! And ye maunna beir me ony ill
will--for there!" she added, holding him out to Maggie! "I haena kissed
him yet!--no ance!--But ye wull lat me kiss him afore ye tak him awa'?--my
ain bairnie, whause vera comin I had prepared shame for!--Oh my God!--But
he kens naething aboot it, and winna ken for years to come! And nane but
his ain mammie maun brak the dreid trowth til him!--and by that time he'll
lo'e her weel eneuch to be able to bide it! I thank God that I haena had to
shue the birds and the beasts aff o' his bonny wee body! It micht hae
been, but for you, my bonnie lass!--and for you, sir!" she went on, turning
to the soutar.
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