Page:Martha Spreull by Zachary Fleming.pdf/116

104 "I maun hae arles," says he, "we can close the bargain atween oorsel's, and speir leave efter hin'."

There wis spunk i' the body, for wi' that he flings himsel' upon me, puts his arms aboot my neck, and makes for my lips. I wis gey an strong, so I swings him roon the table wi' a birl, but he still stuck round my neck.

At that moment the parlour door opened wi' a breinge, and Betty Basin, her face scarlet wi' laughin', rushed ben to my succour.

"Oh, ye mean vagabon'," says she, "wud ye tak' advantage o' a virtuous lass," and wi' that she plays clour at his head wi' a blacklead brush, blackening the whole side o' ane o' his chafts, and leaving the breadth o' the brush on the front o' his white sark and yellow waistcoat.

This wis ower much for me, sae I ran into the kitchen and left Betty blackballin' him up hill and doon dale.



In the midst o' the uproar my faither cam' to the door and rang the bell. We were in a bonny pickle; in fact, we were alarmed oorsel's, and as the body begged pitifully to be hidden