Archie breathed heavily and let his whole weight hang on Ferrier’s hand.
“Haud awa’ frae me, lassie!” he expostulated thickly.
Logie laughed.
“He must be far gone indeed to take you for a lass,” he observed.
Ferrier gave Archie a stronger shake.
“A’ll no gang hame wantin’ Annie!” continued Flemington, whose humour was beginning to find some pleasure in the situation.
The raw vernacular that he had mastered with absolute success in childhood was at his tongue’s end still.
“Come, come,” said James.
Ferrier moved forward, but Archie had reached out a limp hand and taken him by the ankle.
“Annie!” he muttered, “ma bonnie, bonnie Annie!”