Page:History of John Cheap, the Chapman (7).pdf/16

16 On the Saturday night thereafter, I was like to be badly off for quarters, I travelled until many people were going to bed; but at last I came to a farmer's house, asked what they would buy, naming twenty fine things which I never had, and then asked for quarters, which they very freely granted, thinking I was some genteel packman, with a rich pack, and being weary with travel could take out little supper; being permitted to lie in the spence beside the goodman's bed, the goodwife being very hard of hearing, she thought that every body was so, for when she went to bed, she cries out "A how hearie, goodman, is na yon a braw moderate chapman we hae here the night, he took just seven soups o' our sowens, and that fill'd him fu'; a' dear Andrew man, turn ye about an' tak my cauld a—se in your warm lunchoch." On the morrow I went to the kirk with the goodman, and I missed him about the door, went into the middle of the kirk, but could scesee [sic] no empty seats but one big form, where none sat but one woman by herself, and so I set myself down beside her, not knowing where I was, until sermon was over, when the minister began to rebuke her for using her Merry-bit, against law or license; and then she began to whinge and yowl like a dog, which made me run out cursing, before the minister had given the blessing.

PART III

I TRAVELLED then west by Falkirk, by the foot of the great hills; and one night after I had got lodging in a farmer's house, there happened a contest between the goodman and his mother, he being a young man unmarried, as I