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going to it; ye ſhould actually a married the poor woman, when ye cohabited ſo long together.
Jock. No ſtir, we did not habit together, tho' ſhe kiſt me, an I kiſt her, ſometimes in the ba'n, an ſometimes in the byre, nane kent o't but my mither, an ſhe wadna let me take her but ſent me away to court our Maggy.
(His mother cries through the hole of the door;) O ye ſilly ſumph, is that the thanks I get for counſelling you to do well, warna me ye wad a been married on a loun like leiper, lazy lump, who had neither wit nor wiles, no ſae much judgment as wiſe the wind frae her ain tail, but lute it gag afore fouk. Up gets the elders crying, Fy, fy, Duncan the bellman drive that wicked wife to the door, ſhe diſturbs us all.
Duncan rins to the door whiſpering Shame fa' you for a wife gang out o' that; but I wad rather hear you as hear them yet.
Meſs J. Now John will you be ſo plain as tell me whether you promiſ'd to marry the woman or no, when ye lay with her.
Jock. Na ſtir, I didna ly with her; for the herd and me lay in the byre bed, an ſhe lay in the lang ſaddle at the hallen end.
Meſs. J. It is all one whether you lay with her or not, when you have got her with child that's what you confeſs;
Jock. I kenna whether I got her wi' bairn or no; but I did wi' her as I did wi' our Maggy, when ſhe fell wi' bairn.
