“—or Jean’s aither,” she went on, apparently regardless; “but I wad fain be sure ye kent a’ aboot yer ain hoose ’at a body micht chance to see frae the croon o’ the caus’ay (middle of the street).”
“The parlour-blind’s gane up crookit sin’ ever that thoomb-fingert cratur, Watty Witherspail, made a new roller till ’t. Gien ’t be that ye mean, Mistress Mellis,—”
“Hoots!” returned the other. “—Hoo far can ye lippen to that Jean o’ yours, mem?”
“Nae far’er nor the len’th o’ my nose, an’ the breid o’ my twa een,” was the scornful answer.
Although, however, she thus manifested her resentment of Mrs Mellis’s catechetical attempts in introducing her subject, Miss Horn had no desire to prevent the free outcome of her approaching communication.
“In that case, I may speyk oot,” said Mrs Mellis.
“Use yer freedom.”
“Weel, I will. Ye was hardly oot o’ the hoose last nicht, afore —”
“Ye saw me gang oot?”
“Ay did I.”