“I'll no tak it,” said Christie.
“They are keen to hae them,” said Flucker; and hastily retired, as if to treat further with the small merchants.
On this, Mr. Miller, pretending to make for Leith, said, carelessly, “Twenty-three shillings, or they are not for me.”
“Tak the cutter's freight at a hundre' cran, an' I'm no caring,” said Christie.
“They are mine!” said Mr. Miller, very sharply. “How much shall I give you the day?”
“Auchty pund, sir, if you please—the lave when you like; I ken ye, Mr. Miller.”
While counting her the notes, the purchaser said slyly to her:
“There's more than a hundred cran in the cutter, my woman.”
“A little, sir,” replied the vender; “but, ere I could count them till ye by baskets, they would lose seven or eight cran in book,* your gain, my loss.”
*Bulk.