J. J. Bell

“ She left the shop, and turned in the direction of Hazel Cottage.
For a minute Mr. Ogilvy watched her from behind a pile of wooden cheeses in the window. Then he turned away with a groan, knocking over a large pot of gooseberry-jam. Surveying the mess at his feet, he sighed:
"Samuel Ogilvy, ye're jist an eediot! Ye've nae mair sense nor that puir jaur o' jam."
When, about half-past two, the bell rang, Jess, who had just settled down to an afternoon's baking, murmured impatiently. "If it's that Miss Perk again, I've a good mind not to let her in. She's always coming when I'm busy. ”

“ Compliment! We'll be hearin' next that ye're takin' lessons in dancin' an' deportment. 'Deed, Maister Ogilvy, ye fairly surprise me whiles! Ye seem to be renewin' yer youth like the eagle. Ha-ha!"
Poor Mr. Ogilvy certainly did not look much like an eagle as he mumbled sadly—"Oh, Mistress Wallace, if—if ye jist kent ma feelin's—ma inmost fee—"
"Are ye no' weel?" she exclaimed.
The grocer gave her a look that would have melted a flint. ”

“ Houston.
"Haud yer tongue, lassie! I'm jist beginnin'. Whit has the man stolen, Jess?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing!"
"I'm gled to hear ye catched him in time. But I'll pit the polis on his track, onywey.... Weel, Maister Burgular, whit ha'e ye got to say fur yersel'? Eh?"
White with wrath, the glass-merchant turned on her. "Show me how to open this cursed door, or—"
"Whisht, man! Ye're bad enough wi'oot sweerin'."
"Aunt Wallace, for my sake let him go," whispered Jess.
"Let him gang? Nae fears! Wait till Davie comes hame an' he'll mak' collops o' this braw bit o' mankind. ”

“ Ogilvy perspired with his mental agony. "I doot the laddie ye've got noo is nae better nor the yin we wis speakin' aboot, an' he hasna hauf the fun in him. He's jist wastin' yer substance, Maister Ogilvy, in a maist unexcitin' fashion, an'—"
"Aw, the laddie's honest, I can tell ye. Ay; he's honest."
"Weel, he's no' ready to quit the schule if he canna tell three frae fower. An egg's an egg!"
"Ye never said a truer word, Mistress Wallace, but—"
"An' I'll tak' a pun' o' bakin'-sody." ”

“ But dootless some of the merchants in the city 'll ha'e been hearin' aboot the big jobs that Davie's gettin', an' they'll be wantin' to share in his prosperity, as it—"
"That 'll be it. The wudd merchants an' ithers 'll be wantin' to dae business wi' him. I maun say that mairrage has been the makin' o' Davie Houston—though I wudna tell Jess that."
"She's a clever lass, yer niece, Mistress Wallace," remarked the grocer. ”

“ Would he appreciate her self-sacrifice?"
"But no one knows but you. I had to tell you, Mr. Dobbie. You were so kind, and I was desperate that day.... But nobody knows but you about David." Speaking her husband's name seemed to strengthen her. She looked him straight in the face. ”