But he was a libertine through and through, nourished equal contempt and suspicion of all womankind, and paid his way among them habitually with idle compliments.
"Gae wa' wi' ye!" said he.

"Ye're a dentie baby, and be content wi' that!" That was Dandie's way; a kiss and a comfit to Jenny--a bawbee and my blessing to Jill--and goodnight to the whole clan of ye, my dears! When anything approached the serious, it became a matter for men, he both thought and said.

Women, when they did not absorb, were only children to be shoo'd away.

Merely in his character of connoisseur, however, Dandie glanced carelessly after his sister as she crossed the meadow.

"The brat's no that bad!" he thought with surprise, for though he had just been paying her compliments, he had not really looked at her.