'Twas so wi' all the man did; he was handy enough, but there were aye others better.

But he was all for having a hand in whatever was going on himself; he'd no the patience to watch others and learn, maybe, from the way they did.
Andy was a solitary man; he'd no wife nor bairn, and he lived by his lane, save for a dog and a bantam cock.

Them he loved dearly and nought was too good for them.

The dog, I'm thinkin', he had odd uses for; Andy was no above seekin' a hare now and then that was no his by rights.

And he'd be out before dawn, sometimes, with old Dick, who could help him with his poaching.