“It ’ill be a graund waukenin’ for Bell; she ’ill no be a weedow yet, nor the bairnies fatherless.
“There’s nae use glowerin’ at me, Drumsheugh, for a body’s daft at a time, an’ a’ canna contain masel’, and a’m no gaein’ tae try.”
Then it dawned upon Drumsheugh that the doctor was attempting the Highland fling.
“He’s ill made, tae begin wi’,” Drumsheugh explained in the kirkyard next Sabbath, “and ye ken he’s been terrible mishannelled by accidents, sae ye may think what like it wes, but, as sure as deith, o’ a’ the Hielan’ flings a’ ever saw yon wes the bonniest.
“A’ hevna shaken ma ain legs for thirty years, but a’ confess tae a turn masel’. Ye may lauch an’ ye like, neeburs, but the thocht o’ Bell an’ the news that wes waitin’ her got the better o’ me.”
Drumtochty did not laugh. Drumtochty looked as if it could have done quite otherwise for joy.
“A’ wud hae made a third gin a’ hed been there,” announced Hillocks aggressively.
“Come on, Drumsheugh,” said Jamie Soutar, “gie’s the end o’t; it wes a michty mornin’.”
“‘We’re twa auld fules,’ says MacLure tae me, as he gaithers up his claithes. ‘It wud set us better tae be tellin’ Bell.’
“She was sleepin’ on the top o’ her bed wrapped in a plaid, fair worn oot wi’ three weeks’ nursin’ o’ Saunders, but at the first touch she was oot upon the floor.