Hendry was the person whom he took into his confidence.
"It may hae been foolish at my time o' life," Hendry reported him to have said, "but I couldna help it.

If they juist kent her better they couldna but see 'at she's a terrible takkin' crittur." Jeames was generous; indeed he had come home with the intention of scattering largess.

A beggar met him one day on the brae, and got a shilling from him.

She was waving her arms triumphantly as she passed Hendry's house, and Leeby got the story from her.
"Eh, he's a fine man that, an' a saft ane," the woman said.

"I juist speired at 'im hoo his bonny wife was, an' he oot wi' a shillin'!" Leeby did not keep this news to herself, and soon it was through the town.