They'd talk aboot him, and admire him.

Jamie--he was reserved and bashfu', and the lassies were wont to laugh at him.

They thocht he was afraid of them; whiles they thocht he had nae use for them, whatever, and was a woman hater.

It was nae so; it was just that Jamie was waiting.

He knew that, soon or late, he'd find the yin who meant mair to him than a' the ither lassies i' the world put together.
And it was sae.