"I put my arms on the gate and stood watching her, for many a night I would be thinking of her and me away, and then maybe because she would be feeling an eye on her, she turned round.
"'Will ye aye be my lass yet, Mirren?' and I was proud to see the red flush rise to her cheeks.
"'How many would that be making, Ronny?' she cried, and came half way and stopped.
"'Just the one, Mirren,' said I, and opened the gate and came beside her.
"'Ye will have changed then since last I kent ye.'
"'Indeed, and I think ye're bonnier yoursel', lass, and I would not be believing that possible,' and we walked to the stable door wi' old Chance at our heels.
"'They will have surely been teaching you nice talk, the stranger lassies, Ronny.'
"'Mirren, dear,' said I, and put my hand on her shoulder, 'we will not be talking that way any more, you and me,' and at the stable door o' Finlay Stuart's place I put my arm round the shoulders of his proud lass Mirren, and held her back, and made her look at me.
"'My lass,' said I, 'in a wee while I will be kissing my trysted wife.'
"'Look at the dog, Ronny, first,' said Mirren, but her eyes were laughing.