“Is't yersel, Eppie?” he said at last.
“It's a' that,” said Eppie.
“Hoo's a' wi' ye?” asked Sam'l.
“We're juist aff an' on,” replied Eppie, cautiously.
There was not much more to say, but as Sam'l sidled off the hen-house, he murmured politely, “Ay, ay.” In another minute he would have been fairly started, but Eppie resumed the conversation.
“Sam'l,” she said, with a twinkle in her eye, “ye can tell Lisbeth Fargus I'll likely be drappin' in on her' aboot Mununday or Teisday.”
Lisbeth was sister to Eppie, and wife of Tammas McQuhatty, better known as T'nowhead, which was the name of his farm. She was thus Bell's mistress.
Sam'l leaned against the hen-house as if all his desire to depart had gone.
“Hoo d'ye kin I'll be at the T'nowhead the nicht?” he asked, grinning in anticipation.
“Ou, I'se warrant ye'll be after Bell,” said Eppie.