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her mother; "the maister will no be angry. Gang, like a gude bairn."
"Na," said Jean, "but he will be angry, for I did no get them the last time either."
"And whatfore did na ye get them, my dear," said Mrs MacClarty, in a soothing tone. "Cause 'twas unco kittle, and I cou'd no be fashed;" replied the hopeful girl, catching, as she spoke, another handful of flies. Her mother, finding that intreaties were of no avail, endeavoured to speak in a more peremptory accent; and even laid her commands upon her daughter to depart immediately: but she had too often permitted her commands to be disputed, to be surprised at their being now treated with disrespect. Jean repeated her determined purpose of not going to school that day; and the firmer she became in opposition, the authoritative tone of the mother gradually weakened; till at length by saying, that "if she did na gang to the schul, she sudna stand
