"Ready!" returned she—"what for?—what do ye mean?—what women?"
Oh! guid gracious! I'll never forget the sensation that I felt at that moment. I'm surprised that I didna drop dead on the floor. "Isabella," said I, "are ye no perfectly aware that this is our wedding-day, and that we were to be at the manse at twelve o'clock precisely?"
"Ay!" said she, "had ye keepit your tryst at such a time, and at such a place, nae doubt this would have been the day; but ye couldna be fashed to keep it then—and I canna be fashed now."
"Oh, confound it!" cried I; "Isabella, do ye want to drive me mad?"
"I dinna think there's ony danger o' that," replied she.
Vexation and surprise put me fairly beyont mysel—I was taken in a moment.
"Weel!" exclaimed I, "ye'll rue it, Isabella! ye'll rue it—there shall nae woman mak a fool o' me!"
"Nor man o' me," said she.
"Be it sae," said I; "yet, guidness me! you're no in earnest?"
"Earnest!" said she; "I tell you I canna be fashed."