"You're grand crackers," said Mysie.  "Ye ken a hankie mair than ever happened; but, the man that cheats me ance, shame fa' him; gin he cheat me twice, shame fa' me. That's my wey o' lookin' at things." 

 This kind o' raggin' at ane anither gaed on for the feck o' the forenicht, an' we were juist i' the thick o' a' tirr-wirr aboot the best cure for the kink-host, when the doonstairs door gaed clash to the wa', an' in anither meenit in banged Sandy in his sark sleeves, an' his hair fleein' like a bundle o' ravelled threed. 

 "Michty tak' care o' me, Sandy," says I, I says; "what's happened?" 

 "Aye the mair the merrier, but the fewer they fess the better," says Mistress Winton. 

 "Wha's been meddlin' wi' you, Sandy?" 

 But fient a wird cud Sandy get oot. He was stanin' pechin' like a podlie oot o' the watter, an' starin' roond him like a huntit dog. 

 "Fiddlers' dogs and fleshers' flees come to feasts unbidden," said Mysie; but Sandy gae her a glower that garred her steek her moo gey quick. 

 "What i' the earth's wrang, Sandy," I says, gien him a shak'. 

 "Wh-wh-whaur's the g-grund ceenimin, Bawbie?" says Sandy.  "There's a tinkler wife needin' a bawbee's-wirth, an' I've socht the shop heich an' laich for't." 

 "Keep me, Sandy," says I, "is that what's brocht you here? You'll get it in a mustard tin in the pepper drawer. But wha's i' the shop?" 

 "Oo, juist the tinkler wife," says Sandy. 

 "Weel, did you ever?" said Mistress Kenawee, haudin' up her hands. 

 "No!" said Sandy, turnin' to her gey ill-natured like.  "Did you?" 

 "That's a type o' what ye ca' your men," says Mysie.  "Weel, weel; they're scarce o' cloots that mend their hose wi' dockens." 

 "Bliss my hert, Sandy, she'll be awa' wi' the till atore ye get back," I said.  "Rin awa' yont as fest as your feet'll cairry ye." 

 "The fient a fear o' that," Sandy strak in.  "I gae the pileeceman tippence to stand at the door till I cam' back. I'm no' juist so daft's a' that, yet." 

 "An' the tinkler wife wants a bawbee's wirth o' grund ceenimin?" said the Gairner's wife.  "That fair cows the cadger." 

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