Burns: Their ignorant pride, Nell. I don’t laugh at it—I think it’s like a queen’s dress—you make it look like that. I thought that the first day, barley-gleaning—you remember? The way you walked, and then stooping—willow rods and birds’ wings and the way a star falls. What’s a dress to all that, my dearie?
[He sings.]
O, once I lov’d a bonnie lass,
Ay, and I love her still;
And, whilst that virtue warms my breast,
I’ll love my handsome Nell.
She dresses aye sae clean and neat,
Both decent and genteel:
An’ then there’s something in her gait
Gars ony dress look weel.