Ay, then, what made me say that was 'at in a clink (flash) I saw the humorous side o' Gavin's position." "Man, man," said Hendry, admiringly, "and what is't ?" "Oh, it's this, there's something humorous in speirin' a woman to let ye aff so as ye can be married to another woman." "I daursay there is," said Hendry, doubtfully.
"Did she let him aff ?" asked Jess, taking the words out of Leeby's mouth.
"I'm comin' to that," said Tammas.

"Gavin proposes to me after I had haen my laugh--" "Yes," cried Hendry, banging the table with his fist, "it has a humorous side.

Ye're richt again, Tammas." "I wish ye wadna blatter (beat) the table," said Jess, and then Tammas proceeded.
"Gavin wanted me to tak' paper an' ink an' a pen wi' me, to write the proceedins doon, but I said, 'Na, na, I'll tak' paper, but no nae ink nor nae pen, for there'll be ink an' a pen there.' That was what I said." "An' did she let him aff ?" asked Leeby.
"Weel," said Tammas, "aff we goes to Mag's hoose, an' sure enough Mag was in.

She was alone, too; so Gavin, no to waste time, juist sat doon for politeness' sake, an' syne rises up again; an says he, 'Marget Lownie, I hae a solemn question to speir at ye, namely this.

Will you, Marget Lownie, let me, Gavin Birse, aff ?'" "Mag would start at that ?" "Sal, she was braw an' cool.