m."

_1st Mer._ "You will be asking fifteen shillin' the cran."

_Christie._ "And ten to that."

_1st Mer._ "Good-morning."

_2d Mer._ "Would he not go over fifteen shillings? Oh, the thief o' the
world!--I'll give sixteen."

_3d Mer._ "But I'll give eighteen."

_2d Mer._ "More fool you! Take him up, my girl."

_Christie._ "Twenty-five is my price the day."

_3d Mer._ "You will keep them till Sunday week and sell their bones."

_[Exeunt the three Merchants. Enter 4th Merchant._

_4th Mer._ "Are your fish sold? I'll give sixteen shillings."

_Christie._ "I'm seeking twenty-five, an' I'm offered eighteen."

_4th Mer._ "Take it." _[Exit._

_Christie._ "They hae putten their heads thegither."

Here Flucker came up to her, and told her there was a Leith merchant
looking for her. "And, Custy," said he, "there's plenty wind getting up,
your fish will be sair hashed; put them off your hands, I rede ye."

_Christie._ "Ay, lad! Flucker, hide, an' when I play my hand sae, ye'll
run in an cry, 'Cirsty, the Irishman will gie ye twenty-two schellin the
cran.'"

_Flucker._ "Ye ken mair than's in the catecheesm, for as releegious as
ye are."

The Leith merchant was Mr. Miller, and this is the way he worked.

_Miller (in a mellifluous voice)._ "Are ye no fatigued, my deear?"

_Christie (affecting fatigue)._ "Indeed, sir, and I am."

_Miller._ "Shall I have the pleasure to deal wi' ye?"

_Christie._ "If it's your pleasure, sir. I'm seekin' twenty-five
schellin."

_Miller (pretending not to hear)._ "As you are a beginner, I must offer
fair; twenty schellin you shall have, and that's three shillings above
Dunbar."

_Christie._ "Wad ye even carted herrin with my fish caller fra' the sea?
and Dunbar--oh, fine! ye ken there's nae herrin at Dunbar the morn; this
is the Dunbar schule that slipped westward. I'm the matirket, ye'll
hae to buy o' me or gang to your bed" _(here she signaled to Flucker)._
"I'll no be oot o' mine lang."

_Enter Flucker hastily, crying:_ "Cirsty, the Irishman will gie ye
twenty-two schellin."

"I'll no tak it," said Christie.

"They are keen to hae them," said Flucker; and hastily retired, as if to
treat further with the small merchants.

On this, Mr. Miller, pretending to make for Leith, said, carelessly,
"Twenty-three shillings, or they are not for me."

"Tak the cutter's freight at a hundre' cran, an' I'm no caring," said
Christie.

"They are mine!" said Mr. Miller, very sharpl