He had a very large practice, and, since he was a bachelor, with none but himself to care for, he was supposed to be almost wealthy--certainly he was rich for a country doctor.
"Weel, Jamie, man, and ho's the wife and the wean the day ?" he asked.
"They're nane so braw, doctor," said Jamie, dolefully.

"But yell see that for yersel', I'm thinkin'." The doctor went in, talked to Jamie's wife a spell, told her some things to do, and looked carefully at the sleeping bairn, which he would not have awakened.

Then he took Jamie by the arm.
"Come ootside, Jamie," he said.

"I want to hae a word wi' ye." Jamie went oot, wondering.

The doctor walked along wi' him in silence a wee bit; then spoke, straight oot, after his manner.
"Yon's a bonnie wean o' yours, Jamie," he said.