Up gets auld Rabby, and auld Sandy, the souter of Seggyhole, and put every thing in order; they prapet up the bed wi’ a rake, and rippling kame; the stoops being broken, they made a solid foundation of peats, laid on the caff bed and bowsters, and Jockey and Maggy were bedet the second time.
Jockey not being used to lie wi’ a naked woman, except heads and thraws wi’ his mither, gets his twa hands about the bride’s neck, and his hough out-o’er her hurdies, saying, I ne’er kist wife nor lass naked before, and for fainness I’ll bite you, &c.
Naething mair remarkable happened till about half a year and four oukes thereafter, when in comes Marion Mushet, rinning barefitted and barelegged, wi’ bleart cheeks and a watery nose, cursing and banning greeting and flyting.
(Marion enters, crying,) And whar’s John?
Mith. Indeed he’s out in the yard pouing kail runts.
Mar. A black end on him and his runts baith, for he’s ruined me and my bairn.
Mith. Ruined you! it canna be; he never did you ill, nor said you ill, by night nor by day, what gars you say that?
Mar. O woman! our Jenny is a rowing like a pack of woo; indeed she’s wi’ quick bairn, and your John is the father o’t.
Mith. Our John the father o’t! haud, there’s enough said, lieing lown? I trow our John was ne’er guilty of sic a sinfu’ action. Daft woman, I trow it’ll be but wind, that hoves up the lasses wame; she’ll hae drucken some sour drink, raw sowens, or rotten milk, makes her so ill.
Mar. A wae be to him and his actions baith, he’s the father o’t, fornicator dog that he is, he’s ruined me and my bairn; I bore her and brought her up honestly, till she came to you: her father died, and left me wi’ four o’ them; there wasna ane o’ them could pit on anither’s claes, or tak a louse aff ither.