"Joe Simpson wud dae it ... quick," he answered. "He has a notion o' Maggie."
"Aw wud get another holiday," he added, "when Joe was tried. Aw wud be a witness."
"So wud Aw," said Annie.
"And me too," said Janet.
"Ye wudna," said Jim with scorn, "lassies canna swear, and ye have to put yer hand on the Bible and swear when ye are a witness."
"We'll have to give up the murder idea," I said firmly: "it's unfair; I can't have Jim getting two holidays while the girls get only one."
"We micht get another holiday when Joe was buried," suggested Ellen.
"No," said Jim, "they bury a hanged man in the jile."
"Ye'll just need to get better again," said Janet.
"You'll lose your holiday in that case, Jan."