Watty and several others began to explain the affair, but every one that attempted it had to stop after saying a word or two; even the offending man, although now quite safe, was unable to get beyond “Dan set hens’ eggs” for laughing, and every man in the field was writhing in fits and contortions, through excessive laughter, with the exception of Dan, on whom the laughter was telling like oil on a flame.
Mr. Barrie looked at Dan, and seeing that he was becoming even more ferocious, said calmly: “Corbett, from the behaviour of the crowd I suspect they have been playing some trick on you, and they evidently have succeeded to their entire satisfaction, but to your great annoyance. Please tell me really what has excited you.”
Dan told his story. The laughter was quite as general, but became more distant as he proceeded, for whilst telling his tale he scowled on the “grinning baboons,” as he called them, and clutched his spade angrily, which still further widened the circle. Although Mr. Barrie remained grave, Mrs. Barrie could not but laugh quietly, and Bell, sheltered by an evergreen shrub, did so heartily, repeating, “Well, I never!” All at once she stopped, thought a little, then saying to herself, “That explains it,” she came close to the wall at the point where Dan stood, and said: “There’s a brood o’ chickens, lang-leggit, sharp-nebbit things, come to me that I never set; they’re maybe yours, they’re no ours—they’re come-o’-wills.”
“What!” said Dan; “whan did they come out?”
“This day week exactly.”
“Let’s see them. Come in, Watty, an’ gie’s your skill o’ them,” said Dan, with a happier but still nervous face; then addressing himself to Bell, he said: “Hoo mony came oot?”
“Eleven out o’ thirteen; there were twa eggs did naething.”
“That’s very gude; that’s grand!” said Dan, who was already climbing the wall to get in.
“Had ye no’ better wait till the morn’s mornin’?” said the considerate Bell. “They’re a’ shut up for the nicht, an’ cosy under their mother’s wing; ye’ll disturb them, puir things.”
“I maun see them the nicht; I’ll no’ live if I dinna see them the noo, but I’ll be real canny wi’ them. Come on.”