T'nowhead had not taken his off either, but that was because he meant to go out by and by and lock the byre door.

It was impossible to say which of her lovers Bell preferred.

The proper course with an Auld Licht lassie was to prefer the man who proposed to her.
"Ye'll bide a wee, an' hae something to eat ?" Lisbeth asked Sam'l, with her eyes on the goblet.
"No, I thank ye," said Sam'l, with true genteelity.
"Ye'll better ?" "I dinna think it." "Hoots aye; what's to hender ye ?" "Weel, since ye're sae pressin', I'll bide." No one asked Sanders to stay.

Bell could not, for she was but the servant, and T'nowhead knew that the kick his wife had given him meant that he was not to do so either.

Sanders whistled to show that he was not uncomfortable.
"Ay, then, I'll be stappin' ower the brae," he said at last.
He did not go, however.