hrough me; and I thought it
best to tell Nanse what I was going to do, that she might be something
prepared for it. "Fare ye well, my dear!" said I to her, "you will be a
widow in five minutes--for here goes!" I did not think she could have
mustered so much courage, but she sprang at me like a tiger; and,
throwing the razor into the ass-hole, took me round the neck, and cried
like a bairn. First she was seized with a fit of the hystericks, and
then with her pains. It was a serious time for us both, and no joke; for
my heart smote me for my sin and cruelty. But I did my best to make up
for it. I ran up and down like mad for the Howdie, and at last brought
her trotting along with me by the lug. I could not stand it. I shut
myself up in the shop with Tammy Bodkin, like Daniel in the lions' den;
and every now and then opened the door to spier what news. Oh, but my
heart was like to break with anxiety! I paced up and down, and to and
fro, with my Kilmarnock on my head, and my hands in my breeches pockets,
like a man out of Bedlam. I thought it would never be over; but, at the
second hour of the morning, I heard a wee squeel, and knew that I was a
father; and so proud was I, that notwithstanding our loss, Lucky
Bringthereout and me whanged away at the cheese and bread, and drank so
briskly at the whisky and foot-yill, that, when she tried to rise and go
away, she could not stir a foot. So Tammy and I had to oxter her out
between us, and deliver the howdie herself--safe in at her own door.

CHAPTER NINE--BENJIE'S CHRISTENING

At the christening of our only bairn, Benjie, two or three remarkable
circumstances occurred, which it behoves me to relate.

It was on a cold November afternoon; and really when the bit room was all
redd up, the fire bleezing away, and the candles lighted, every thing
looked full tosh and comfortable. It was a real pleasure, after looking
out into the drift that was fleeing like mad from the east, to turn one's
neb inwards, and think that we had a civilized home to comfort us in the
dreary season. So, one after another, the bit party we had invited to
the ceremony came papping in; and the crack began to get loud and hearty;
for, to speak the truth, we were blessed with canny friends, and a good
neighbourhood. Notwithstanding, it was very curious, that I had no mind
of asking down James Batter, the weaver, honest man, though he was one of
our own elders; and in papped James, just w