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 speir 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..