She knew that if we went much about the house and saw how he treated her, Sanders would cease to be a respected man in Thrums.
So neat in his dress was Sanders, that he was seldom seen abroad in corduroys.

His blue bonnet for everyday wear was such as even well-to-do farmers only wore at fair-time, and it was said that he had a handkerchief for every day in the week.

Jess often held him up to Hendry as a model of courtesy and polite manners.
"Him an' Nanny's no weel matched," she used to say, "for he has grand ideas, an' she's o' the commonest.

It maun be a richt trial to a man wi' his fine tastes to hae a wife 'at's wrapper's never even on, an' wha doesna wash her mutch aince in a month." It is true that Nanny was a slattern, but only because she married into slavery.

She was kept so busy washing and ironing for Sanders that she ceased to care how she looked herself.